Digital Infrastructure, Literacy Key To Reaping Transformational Benefits Of ICT- Danbatta

Robust digital infrastructure and literacy are key to reaping the transformational benefits of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) across public and private institutions in the country.

Executive Vice Chairman,Nigeria Commutations Commission NCC Prof Umar Garba Danbatta have the indication when a delegation of the Top Management Committee (TMC) of the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano (AKTH) paid him a courtesy visit at the Kano Zonal Office of the Commission at the weekend.

As a Commission, we are working to bridge the infrastructure divide, which is an element of the entire digital ecosystem. We do this via a lot of ongoing regulatory initiatives. And, through our training arm, Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), we provide digital literacy to critical sectors of the economy, including the health sector, we also intervene through our Advanced Digital Appreciation Programme,” Danbatta stated.

According to Danbatta, digital divide could be bridged by making computers available and ICT services accessible to people and key sectors of the economy.

He further pointed out that Infrastructure that can host the massive flow of information and knowledge is broadband infrastructure and this is top-most in the agenda of the Commission.

The NCC boss noted that indeed, ICT is transforming every sector of the economy and the earlier we embrace the vast opportunity brought by ICT the better.

Earlier, the AKTH Chief Medical Director,Prof. Abdulrahman Sheshe said, the objective of their visit is to appreciate the EVC’s contribution to the growth and development of the teaching hospital.

According to Sheshe, through the support and donations received from Kano people, like the EVC and institutions like NCC, the hospital had increased its bed capacity from 250 to 700, as well as performing 57 successful transplant surgeries.

“You have also made enormous contributions in this regard and that has helped us to get new dialysis machines through your assistance and these machines are being put to use, aside from other state-of-the-art equipment already in place,” Sheshe said

He however, sought NCC’s support in the area of Health Information Management System (HIMS) and digital capacity for staff.

Highpoint of the visit was presentation of award to the EVC as an expression of the hospital’s appreciation for the enormous contributions of the Commission to the development of health institutions in the country.