Bauchi launches ICT empowerment, eyes $58m World Bank fund — News — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has flagged off the distribution of 7,000 gadgets to beneficiaries of the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) while directing that a mechanism should be formulated to access additional funding from the World Bank’s $500 million fund.

Mohammed said this over the weekend at the distribution ceremony held at the Government House. He stated that the programme targeted youths to enhance their Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills.

He said: “With these tools, our youths, small business owners, farmers, and traders will now have the means to expand their businesses, improve their livelihoods, and contribute to the economy in a more meaningful way. This program is not just about distributing technology; it is about creating a sustainable ecosystem where businesses can thrive and poverty can be reduced.

“My administration remains fully committed to tackling poverty in Bauchi State. As we have shown with this programme, addressing poverty requires multi-faceted solutions. This is why we will continue to work closely with the World Bank and other development partners to expand and strengthen our social protection programmes.”

The governor announced that the World Bank has provided an additional financing package of $500 million to support the rollout of the next phase of NG-CARES 2.0, where participating states would access $12 million, with an additional $46 million set aside as unallocated funds to be redistributed during the programme’s mid-term review meeting.

The distribution of the ICT enhancement facilities marked a significant milestone in the collective efforts to harness the power of technology for the sustainable development of the state and to alleviate poverty through the empowerment of the people.

Also, the National Coordinator of the NG-CARES programme, represented by the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Atiku Musa, commended Bauchi on the achievements recorded in the implementation of the programme and highlighted that the distribution of the ICT gadgets was a key component of the NG-CARES initiative.

He explained that the programme was designed to promote digital inclusion and empower beneficiaries with the skills and tools needed to thrive in a technology-driven world.

The Commissioner for Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Sadiq Hamisu Shira, said the programme reflected Governor Mohammed’s vision of leveraging technology for economic growth.

Shira stated that the distributed gadgets include smartphones, tablets, laptops, and Point of Sales (POS) terminals, providing recipients with access to digital tools that would help them improve their businesses, education, and overall livelihoods.

“I would like to express my profound gratitude to His Excellency for his visionary leadership and continued support for the advancement of small and medium enterprises in Bauchi State and, in particular, for making this initiative a reality. We are not in this for notoriety, but to paint the right colors on the fabric of history so that posterity will be right by us,” he said.

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