ABIA – Governor Alex Otti has performed the ground breaking ceremony for the West Indian Ocean Cable Company – Abia state Duct Infrastructure Internet project aimed at driving last-mile connectivity and Digital inclusion across the state.
Speaking while performing the ceremony at the Aba South local government Headquarters, Governor Otti said the event was set up to highlight the commitment of his administration to the development of the state’s technology infrastructure.
Governor Otti who titled his speech, “Taking Tomorrow” said the overall objective is to run an interconnected underground duct system to support the deployment of reliable broadband technology, superior digital services and expand the network of advantage and new residents.
The Governor said his administration is building an interconnected service delivery architecture that will limit the use of physical papers and files and create a new culture of digital communication, interactions and exchange among students, teachers, patients, government institutions and members of the general public.
The state Chief Executive said the duct infrastructure development Initiative will on completion, form the base for the accelerated growth of the state’s digital economy, providing the structural leverage for enterprise innovation, resource sharing and collaboration across geographical boundaries.
While describing technology as a strong backbone for prosperity, business development and expansion, Governor Otti said technology is critical to the transformation programmes in education and health, productivity in the civil service, security and social protection.
He said that the project will have multiplier benefits in the area of job creation, Enterprise partnerships, and the multiplication of entrepreneurial opportunities, noting that the project on completion will create nothing less than two hundred thousand jobs.
Earlier in an address, the Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr David Kalu, said that the event marked the continuation of a revolution of transformation, innovation and bold leadership that will revolutionize every corner of the state, noting that Abia under Governor Alex Otti has witnessed a Renaissance in Governance.
Also in his remarks, the Managing Director of West Indian Ocean Cable Company-WIOCC, Dr Ayotunde Coker while noting that the company has been active in building digital infrastructure across Africa for the past 18 years, added that Governor Otti is through the bold step bringing economic growth to all nooks and crannies of the state.
In his goodwill message, the General Overseer of Omega Power Ministry, Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, while thanking God for the gift of Governor Alex Otti as a gift to Ndi Abia as evident in the multiple infrastructural turn around across the state, noted that the project when completed will create two hundred thousand direct and indirect jobs to Abians.
The event which was attended by Abia stakeholders including the Aba business community, equally featured goodwill messages from the representative of Nokia Siemens Company, Mr Mike Okpechime.
