Nze Mekam Mgbenwelu is the Commissioner for Technological Development in Imo State. In this interview with our correspondent, Johnkennedy Uzoma, in Owerri, he marshaled out plans by the ministry to drive the state into technological development, among other developmental strategies.
Johnkennedy Uzoma, Owerri
How do you fell manning the new ministry?
Let me first and foremost thank the Governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, for the confidence reposed not just in me personally but also to the people of Obulu Community in Oru West LGA of the state by this appointment as commissioner. He has shown the people of Imo State that he is the man of great vision and leadership because we all know that technology is what drives the economies of the world today and he is keen to ensure that Imo State is not left behind. In this regard he has deemed it fit to carve out in the public sector a ministry that is dedicated not just for technology but also for the development of technology. In that regard it is huge honour to serve in the cabinet of the governor and the people of the state and, of course, a challenge because we realised that the past eight years have not been exactly years of abundant of progress of our state. We met the state in a very comatose condition but given the governor’s passion for good leadership and his vision, we believe we shall rise again to the task and responsibility reposed on us.
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What are your programmes to drive the ministry to the Promise Land?
I am sure you would agree with me that government and governance are all about people. People reside at the centre of governance and government in this regard; the ministry would pay keen attention to the up-scaling and real scaling of the people of the state. By this I mean the youths, who constitute 60% of the population of the state. They have to be given the right skills to become successful and professionals as well as entrepreneurs as members of the society. Talking about teachers, who are guidance of our youths in terms of their rolls as purveyors of education, we have to give them access to those teaching skills and curriculum that would make their work easier and more relevant to today’s prevailing realities. Civil servants, women, businessmen and market men, all are part of this community of people that need to be re-skilled and up-skilled. The present administration is anchored on four pillars, such as good governance, infrastructure development, human capital development and job and wealth creation. This ministry would align with the governor’s four pillars and one of the pillars is human capital development. So, this would tell the people of the state our emphasis on providing indigenes of the state with the right skills set to become or experience much better quality of life. Other areas to look at include proving infrastructure, that access to the Internet, broad band. You know Imo State is not well served in terms of technology. We are going to look at providing Internet access to various communities, schools, hospitals and workers can access to Internet to gain benefit of the technology.
