SGF, Governors’ forum applaud Galaxy Backbone

The third public sector Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) Infrastructure and national stakeholders on NICEP forum came to a close last weekend with applause from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji
Yayale Ahmed and Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

In his keynote speech delivered on behalf of the SGF via video conference by the Permanent Secretary, General Services, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed, SGF said the event, “is epochal as this will be the first time in the history of our great country that the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation (SGF) would be delivering a keynote address to such an important national forum using a video conference facility. At this juncture, I must commend Galaxy Backbone for this wonderful initiative which is a confirmation of the quality of its leadership.”

He described the impact of ICT on human development over the past 10 years as dramatic, stating that societies around the world have rapidly developed, leveraging ICT as an enabler.

SGF also made reference to the fact that globally, governments of both developed and developing economies have been able to positively affect the lives of their people through the effective use of ICTs as a tool for reforming their economies and enabling effective solutions for national development.

According to him, that was precisely the reason for the incorporation of Galaxy Backbone Plc in 2006 by the Federal Government and the subsequent handing over the implementation of the National Information Communication and Education Programme (NICEP) to the company.

Ahmed, therefore, urged State governments and the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) to take full advantage of the investment made by the Federal Government in NICEP to provide digital access to citizens in all locations; improve quality of education and healthcare; support growth of internally generated revenue; enhance government to citizen interaction; cost control and management as well as employment generation and poverty alleviation.

Also speaking, Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr. Bukola Saraki, said that the current political dispensation at the state level is committed to efficient and transparent governance for which ICT is a quick and an effective enabler.

He expressed the confident that the various developmental initiatives in education, health, agriculture and economic empowerment being undertaken by all the States of the Federation can be accelerated by the application of appropriate ICT tools.

Saraki then urged the State Governments on the need to constructively partner with Galaxy Backbone Plc to develop and build their State Information Infrastructure (SII).

Welcoming guest to the forum earlier, the Managing Director, Galaxy Backbone Plc, Mr. Gerald Ilukwe, said that the Federal Government, through Galaxy Backbone, is seeking partnership with State Governments in order to extend the reach of NICEP services to cover all State Capitals and Local Governments in the country.

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