Former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR (Yarlaban Sokoto), and the Governor of Sokoto State, His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, PhD, FCNA, commissioned the newly established Bakhita ICT/CBT Centre at the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto. The event was hosted by Bishop Matthew Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese.
In his remarks, Governor Aliyu, represented by the Chief of Staff, Government House Sokoto, Aminu Haliru Dikko mni, commended the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto for establishing the centre, describing it as a valuable contribution to the state’s educational and technological growth. He noted that information and communications technology (ICT) has become vital to both education and economic development across the globe.
The Governor explained that his administration has, since inception, given priority to ICT development to ensure that young people in Sokoto are not left behind in the global digital drive. He listed some of the steps taken, including equipping schools with computers and ICT gadgets to promote digital literacy from the basic education level and strengthening the Ministry of Digital Economy for improved efficiency.
He further revealed that the state government is working to establish ICT centres across the three senatorial zones of Sokoto to provide children in rural areas with equal access to computer literacy and digital skills. According to him, ICT presents vast opportunities in areas such as cyber security and software engineering, among others.
Governor Aliyu also appealed to wealthy individuals and stakeholders to complement government’s efforts by investing in ICT in the interest of the state.
It could be recalled that apart from being the first Governor to establish the Ministry of Innnovation and Digital Economy in Nigeria, Dr Ahmed has already assented to the law establishing the Sokoto Information and Communications Technology Development Agency (SICTDA), as part of his administration’s commitment to strengthening ICT initiatives and digital innovation across the state.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, CFR, mni, the Chief of Staff Government House, Aminu Haliru Dikko, mni, and the Honourable Commissioner of Innovation and Digital Economy, Hon. Bashar Umar Kwabo, among other dignitaries.
30-09-2025
