Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, has reiterated his administration’s resolve to partner Nigeria Computer Society in furtherance of the development of the Information and Communication technology (ICT) in all areas of government’s operations in the state.

The governor stated this in Uyo, the state capital, while declaring open a three-day South-South Zonal Conference of the society. Akpabio said his administration is poised to lay a solid foundation for the acquisition of ICT knowledge by Akwa Ibom State indigenes through provision of all necessary infrastructures and training of the people in this area.

Akpabio, who was represented at the occasion by Mr. Samuel Effanga, the state Commissioner for Science and Technology, maintained that as part of his government’s effort to revolutionize the state towards being ICT driven, he, as a deliberate policy, established an e-Library that, when completed, will create a nexus between the state and other parts of the world.

He stated further that the state government has also embarked on the training of civil servants and other indigenes of the state on ICT in addition to collaborating with Exxon Mobil to train over 450 unemployed university graduates, which has further enhanced their skills and employability.

The governor, who was conferred with the award of the Digital Governor-General in Nigeria by the society, lauded the IT society for giving Akwa Ibom State the chance to be the first to host zonal conference among the South-South states.

The former military administrator of Niger State, Gen. Cletus Emein (rtd), who spoke on the theme, ‘‘A Nation in Circles: ICT to the Rescue,’’ stated that with patriotic concern and the proper use of ICT, Nigeria may break away from being a nation in circles to attain a befitting status not only for its peace loving disposition but also to putting and end to government promises without fulfilment.