Computer Project: FG Signs MOU With Microsoft, Intel
Federal government yesterday signed a deal with two giant computer manufacturing companies to provide a total of 500,000 computers for Nigerians in the next two years.
The computers are to be sold in the open market at 50 percent discount rate of the current market price under the new Computer for All Nigerian Initiative (CANI) programme.
Under the agreement, the companies, Microsoft and INTEL are expeceted partner with FG through the private public partnership initiative (PPP) for the provision of laptops and desktop computers to Nigerians, especially workers and students.
Director General of Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Mr. Cleopas Angaye who signed on behalf of the government at the ceremony in Abuja said that the scheme was aimed at making computers available and affordable to both the rich and poor in cities and the rural areas.
"This programm as you can see will make laptops and desktops more affordable to the common man. The federal government would be engaging different banks who are ready to partner with it for the success of the scheme", he added.
He said the move was in furtherance of the government's initiative to involve the private sector in the development of major infrastructure that would ensure the success of the reform programmes geared toward INTEL country Manager, Mr. Samuel Mesah commended the federal government for the taking this bold step and explained that the move is a sign of seriuosness by the President Olusegun Obasajo administration in bridging the digital divide in infromation technolog that would help in expanding the Nigeria telecom industry
According to him local companies under the arrangement will provide hard ware and soft wares as well as internet access that will translate to building their capacity in developing the IT sector.
Markial Nogou Microsoft Corporate Head west Africa in his remark believed that the intiative would help government to achieve its IT initiative considering the economy policy that has been strategically planned in such a way that it will improve the economy
He said that the programme would also help in creating employment opportunities to a team teaming population of Nigeria and increase revenue generation base for the government and diversify the economic from total dependance on oil.
Nogou stressed that the initiave is one of those that would help students to have access to computer in both rural and urban areas thereby boosting the standard of education in the country.
This Day