The Ogun Tech Community has called on the state government to fulfil its promise of creating a Ministry of Information and Communication Technology.

The community, comprising technology professionals, start-ups, innovation hubs, and digital experts, stressed that the ministry, if established, would implement crucial policies and integrate with federal goals.

In 2023, Governor Dapo Abiodun, during a meeting with permanent secretaries at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, disclosed that his administration would create new ministries of Mineral Resources, Energy, as well as Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Digital Economy.

The governor added that the Ministry of Youths would be separated from the Ministry of Sports in preparation for the establishment of the Ogun State Sports Commission.

According to the governor, the new ministry would address employment demands and help his administration achieve the objectives set forth in those areas.

However, two years later, the promises are yet to be fulfilled.

President of the tech community, Durosimi Adekunle, in a statement issued on Monday, urged the government to fulfil its promise by renaming the current Ministry of Education, Science and Technology as the Ministry of Education and establishing a standalone Ministry of ICT.

Durosimi stated that Ogun, despite being home to the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, as well as Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, Shuaib Salisu, lacked the institutional structure to harness ICT opportunities.

He said, “At the national level, Nigeria has already demonstrated leadership through the creation of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, which has driven key policies and frameworks such as the Nigeria Startup Act.

“However, these opportunities are not being properly implemented in Ogun State because there is no dedicated ministry to champion ICT policies and programs. Without a Ministry of ICT, many national frameworks and opportunities risk being diverted or underutilized.

“A Ministry of ICT will allow Ogun State to align with federal initiatives, implement crucial policies like the Startup Act, and fully develop Silicon Hill, unlock opportunities from national digital economy programs, accelerate the adoption of the Nigeria Startup Act and other tech-driven legislation.

“The Ogun Tech Community urges His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, Governor of Ogun State, to act decisively in creating the Ministry of ICT and ensure Ogun State fully harnesses the opportunities of the digital economy.”

Tech stakeholders press Ogun Government to establish Ministry of ICT