By Emeka Aginam

The Computer Registration Professionals Council of Nigeria, CPN, has urged the Federal Government for more investment in information technology to drive socio-economic development of 21st century Nigeria.

CPN Registrar, Sikiru Shehu at a briefing to unfold details of 2015 CPN organised IT Professionals’ Assembly, said that the government should increase its funding to CPN to enable carry out its activities and also implement the resolutions that will come out from the 2015 IT Assembly starting  tomorrow in Calabar, Cross River State.

According to the Registrar, with proper deployment and funding of IT, issues around corruption and some of the social vices affceting Nigeria would be reduced to the barest minimum.

“Government must give priority attention to IT for digital economy. IT should be part of the current administration’s agenda. There is need for more support and investment in IT,” he said.

Also speaking, Idowu Olusile, Cordinator, IT Assembling Organizing Committee of CPN, noted that Nigeria can only develop and catch up with the rest of the developed economies of the world if IT given priority attention.

“I want to see IT in governance. CPN is willing to work with the government in this regard. Social  vices will be solved if IT is properly deployed. Government should patronise made in Nigeria IT products and services. Government should encourage the patronage of original equipment manufacturers, OEMs in the country as part of its local content policy. This is only way to develop local capacities,” he said.

Throwing more light on the IT Assembly, Shehu said that the forum will be an exclusive networking event for senior and up-coming IT decision makers, consultants, entrepreneurs, practitioners, teachers, students, systems administrators and other interested members of the public.