Nigeria: FG, Microsoft to Build Innovative Centre

THE federal government, in collaboration with Microsoft Incorporated Nigeria had concluded arrangements to build an innovative centre in Abuja, even as over fifty federal government employees were being trained by Microsoft at the Bola Ige Information Technology Centre {BIITC}, Abuja.

Declaring open a two-week MCSE Training for Federal Government Employees at the BIITC, Abuja yesterday, the Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency {NITDA}, Professor Cleopas Angaye said the centre which would be equipped with software testing facilities, will be where all software emanating from Nigeria for export to other parts of the world had to be tested.

Speaking with Journalists, the Center Director of BIITC, Manny Emecheta who noted that the programme was a highly recognised one in the world, said it has to do with train the trainer programme, adding that this starts the phase two of the Microsoft/ Nigeria agreement to train Nigerians on Basic IT Courses.

According to him, the programme which will attract over fifty participants drawn from all the Federal ministries, is designed for all heads of Information Technology of these ministries and parastatals.

The participants for the two weeks, will be trained on installing, configuration and administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional; Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment; implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure.

Other programmes the participants will be engaged in include planning and maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure; planning, implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 active Directory infrastructure; designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 active Directory and Network infrastructure as well as designing security for a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network.

It will be recall that Microsoft Incorporated Nigeria under its Unlimited Potential Curriculum had approved a grant of $90,000 for the Bola Ige Information Technology Center {BIITC} and five other Community Resource Centers {CRCs} for the teaching of Basic IT Courses as part of moves to boost information technology in Nigeria .

Only recently the Bola Ige Information Technology Centre {BIITC} special IT skills programme graduated twenty one (21) physically challenged persons as part of phase one of the programme.

The Chief Bola Ige Information Technology Centre (BIITC) was established and funded by United States Government in 2002 through its Education for Development and Democracy Initiative (EDDI) scheme launched in 1998 as United States Government’s commitment to strengthening African educational systems.

Source: Vanguard