FORMER chairman, Nigeria Internet Group, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, has said the federal government is committed to the development of electric powered cars. Ekuwem who is the President of Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria, said this at an IT workshop organised for journalists in Uyo at the weekend.
He said modalities were being put in place to improve on the limitations discovered in the prototype of the car.
"We discovered that the battery in the prototype can only last for a 45-kilometre journey before a re-charge.
"And so, the federal government is looking at the capacity of the battery, so that it can last longer before the next recharge," he explained.
He said the workshop's theme: "Empowering the press in a digital revolution", was timely since the media needed to be abreast of IT trends to enable them to chart a course for Nigerians.
Meanwhile, Akwa Ibom was last weekend, listed in the maiden Nigerian IT Directory, a compendium of major players in the IT industry in the country.
At the ceremony in Uyo, Governor Victor Attah described the initiative as an acknowledgment of efforts by states and the federal government to promote and reposition an economy supported by science and technology.
Attah, who said the state would increase its IT capacity, maintained that investment in the sector would reduce dependence on petroleum revenue in 20 years while its exploitation was environmental friendly.
In his remarks, Science and Technology minister Turner Isoun said the compendium, which would also be published in French language, would be a tool to fight cyber crime in Nigeria.
The compendium Isoun said, would also complement federal government's set goals of "Computer for all Nigerians Initiative", reduce computer illiteracy and promote public access to information technology.
The minister called for better collaboration from the private sector to subsidise computer price to enable Nigeria to achieve the 2015 UN Millennium Development Goals' target.
Vanguard.