Abuja Technology Village to Be of International Standard

The Abuja Technology Village will be built to international standard to enable it propel the nation into industrialisation and realisation of the Federal Government’s vision of making Nigeria one of the top twenty industrialised countries in world. The FCT Minister, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar made this revelation at the weekend in Abuja while receiving the management team of the National Incubation Technology Center led by its Director-General, Professor Gambo Laraba Abdullahi that paid him a courtesy call in his office.

The minister reiterated that the vision of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to make Nigeria one of the twenty advanced countries in the world by 2020 can be realised going by the structures being put in place by this administration.

Umar restated that, “that is why my administration in the Federal Capital Territory is not leaving any stone unturned in ensuring that Abuja becomes one of the leading twenty cities in the world”.

According to him, substantial amount of money had been appropriated in the 2008 budget to assist his administration in putting down solid structures that can stand the test of time and make that lofty dream realizable.

The minister recalled that when the Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh visited Nigeria recently he promised that his country would support Nigeria in establishing the Abuja Technology Village which is a good omen.

His words, “the FCT Administration under me will expedite action on the setting up of the Abuja Technology Village to make it a one stop shop for all stakeholders.”

Umar remarked that the world has changed to knowledge-based economy and that the FCT Administration has no option than to work towards that direction to enable it take its proper position as one of the twenty leading cities in the world by 2020.

He, therefore, assured that the FCT Administration and the Abuja Technology Village would collaborate with National Incubation Technology Center to achieve the set targets for the benefit of the entire country.

Umar promised to allocate a plot of land very close to the Abuja Technology Village which would be enough to accommodate the Center and to encourage mutual collaboration as well as exchange of ideas.

Speaking earlier, the Director-General of the National Incubation Technology Center, Professor Gambo Laraba Abdullahi disclosed that the Federal Government has approved the establishment of a Model Technology Incubation Center in Abuja.

Professor Abdullahi noted that the establishment of the National Incubation Technology Center in Nigeria is a step in good direction as it is the tool used by many advanced countries for rapid development.

While lamenting the problem of poor funding and lack of facilities, she solicited for support from the FCT Minister, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar as well as the FCT Administration to at least provide the Center with an urgent office accommodation since the center has been operating from a rented apartment.