The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has made the case for tech-based solutions to the disruptions caused in the wake of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, noting that Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have proven quite useful in managing communication, eCommerce and other disruptions to the social order.
The governor said this in commemoration of the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day marked by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and other agencies.
According to him, “There is no denying that COVID-19 pandemic has altered life as we know it, but what is soothing is that advances in telecommunications have created alternatives. Much as there are limitations to physical contact, we can still continue with our tasks and engage with people through videoconferences, eCommerce and other tools that have made life a lot easier.”
He urged scientists and innovators to continue to seek out new ways to cope with the disruptions to social order, noting that the state government, for instance, has embraced technology in educating pupils in primary schools through the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation at home (EdoBEST@Home) initiative.
“We have and will continue to promote the use of science and technology to better human life. This is why for years, we embarked on the training of youths in computer programming and data science so that our youths will be best equipped to work in the 21st century workplace. A lot of them today are reaping the benefits of the training they got,” Obaseki said.
Noting that the state government will continue to upskill its staff to adapt to changes in technology, he said, “We have just completed the John Odigie-Oyegun Civil Service Training Academy, which will offer courses that would help our workers perform better and be more productive. These constitute the many changes we are making to ensure that the people are best served.”
