Nigeria: World Bank, Zenith Bank Partner With ITAN On Adipeng 2009

Emeka Aginam

25 March 2009

Lagos — The World bank in partnership with Zenith and the Information Technology Association of Nigeria, ITAN have concluded arrangement for the visit of the World Information Technology Society Alliance, (WITSA) Chairman, Dato' Dan E. Khoo and his delegations for the ADIPENG 2009 workshop and conference , taking place next month in Abuja.

The President of ITAN Dr. Jimson Olufuye who disclosed this to IT journalists last in world press conference noted with optimism that the admission of ITAN into WISTA is expected to open a new window of opportunity for global reckoning for Nigeria .

With full support of World bank and Zenith bank, the Chairman of WITSA, according to Olufuye for the first time ever will be visiting Nigeria with his entourage next month for ADIPENG, an ellipsis for Advancing the Dynamics of ICT Policy Engineering for e_Government.

"While it is noted that a handful of state governments, business entities and the Federal Government have IT Policies, there is no doubt that these policies need to be taken to the next level for better government service delivery on the e_platform for the people and for effective governance across the government and organisations. It is an opportunity for states, local government and entities without an ICT policy to adapt better practices for a leapfrog experience" Olufuye who is passionate about youth empowerment through IT said

He informed that Dato' Dan E. Khoo and his entourage will be in Nigeria for many reasons including:

*To promote Foreign Direct Investment into Nigeria as part of Nigeria's benefit of membership

*To inaugurate the WITSA/ITAN/NCS Government Advisory Group on April 23rd and

*To play active role in ADIPENG 2009 - a 3_day WITSA/ITAN/NCS International Conference/Workshop scheduled for next month..

WITSA Chairman Dato Dan E. Khoo, World Bank Chief Economist to Nigeria Mr Ismail Radwan, Zenith Bank CEO, Mr Jim Ovia, President, Nigerian Academy of Sciences Prof. Oye Ibidapo_Obe, NITDA DG, Prof Cleopas Angaye, NCS President Prof Charles Uwadia, CPN President Prof. (Mrs) Adenike Osofisan are among eminent IT experts making keynote presentation during the event.

Similarly, Kano State Commissioner of Science and Technology, Dr Bashir Galadanci, Mrs Clara Vrom of Ghana Investment Council, DG, Koffi Anna Center for ICT Excellence, Dorothy Gordon, Director ECOWAS CCC, Dr Sola Afolabi, NIG President Mr Lanre Ajayi, ATCON President Dr Emmanuel Ekunwem, MD Programos Software Emmanuel Amos, President Afri_Hub Ltd, Prof. Manny Aniebonam, Engr Titi Omo_Ettu and Abdul_Hakeem Ajijola are among other key speakers at the epoch making event.

State Governments like Kano, Ogun and FCTA will be making presentation on their e_Government Programmes. The Workshop indeed will provide opportunities for Local, State & Federal Governments to engage the visitors and one another on ICT investment potentials across Nigeria.

It will afford the WITSA delegation ample opportunity for first hand assessment of the tremendous IT investment potentials in Nigeria. It will also open up the non_oil & gas sector particularly ICT which is lagging behind in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Nigeria. Oil & Gas currently attracts more than 55% of the estimated US$9b yearly FDI into Nigeria. With the Federal Government target of US$50b FDI yearly till 2020, this Workshop is no doubt critical to the attainment of the Vision 2020 of the Federal Government of Nigeria of US$600b FDI. Please peruse ITAN URL @ www.itan.org.ng for more details on the upcoming activities.

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