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FG Targets U.S.$900 Billion From ICT4D Initiative Before 2020(AllAfrica Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) The federal government has said it is targeting about $900 billion from a specialised information technology initiative tagged, Information and Communications Technology 4 Development (ICT4D), before 2020. In a publication made available to THISDAY in Abuja, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) stated that the document is a blue print on how to use IT to drive every sector of the economy towards the attainment of the nation's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The document, according to the publication, was developed with contributions from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and has been described by experts as the most comprehensive ICT4D plan in the West African region. The experts added that, if properly implemented, it would earn Nigeria a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $900 billion and a per capita income of $4000 by 2020. "The ICT4D document is aimed at encouraging investment in ICT and it is used as a tool in a wide range of applications and infrastructural planning, fight illiteracy, improve health care delivery, enhance quality of education, boost human capital development, agriculture, national security and law enforcement, governance and the private sector." the statement added. The blue print acknowledged the use of e-government and governance, adding that is appreciable use of ICT for improved delivery of, and access to government services. Part of NITDA's mandate is to ensure Simple, Morale, Accountable, Responsive and Transparent (SMART) governance using ICT tools. The statement further added that NITDA has collaborated with the International Institute of Software Technology, United Nations University for the development of e-governance in Nigeria, adding that appreciable success has been recorded. Copyright This Day. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). |