Bureau for Information & Communication Technology (BICT) is the bedrock for a State survival and development in a rapidly changing national and global environment. ICT challenges us to devise bold and courageous initiatives to address a host of vital socio-economic issues such as reliable infrastructure, skilled human resources, open government and other essential issues of capacity building. In a
ddition, an Information & Communication Technology is built on reliable human resources and infrastructure constitutes the fundamental tool and means of assessing, planning, managing development change and for achieving sustainable growth in the state. It is for this reason that every progressive State has a State ICT-Bureau or Agency with a defined ICT-Development policy and an implementation strategy to respond to the emerging global reality and thus avert becoming a victim of the digital divide. A fast developing State like Bauchi State, which aspires to participate effectively and become a key player in the emerging Information Age, needs to have in place, a highly efficient Information & Communication Technology system driven by a vibrant State ICT-Bureau with strong ICT Development
It is the vision of the Bureau to make Bauchi State an ICT capable State in Nigeria and a key player in the Information & Communication Society by the year 2015, using ICT as the engine for sustainable development and global competitiveness. The key mission of the Bureau is to bridge the digital divide and make Bauchi State an ICT-Complaint State by deploy ICT to facilitate:
(i) Excellent Education
(ii) Wealth Creation
(iii) Poverty Eradication
(iv) Job Creation
(v) Global Competitiveness
The major objectives of this Bureau are;
i. To ensure that Information & Communication Technology resources are readily available to promote efficient State development. To guarantee that the State benefits maximally and to contribute meaningfully by providing the global solutions to the challenges of the Information Age among citizen, especially the unemployed youth. To encourage local production and manufacture of ICT components in a competitive manner. To improve accessibility to public administration for all citizens, bringing transparency to government processes. To establish and develop ICT infrastructure and maximize its use throughout State. vii. To improve healthcare delivery systems in Bauchi State. viii. To enhance planning mechanisms and forecasting for the development of local infrastructure. ix. To enhance the effectiveness of environmental monitoring and control systems using ICT platform . x. To re-engineer and improve urban and rural development schemes. xi. To empower children, women and the disabled by providing special programs for the acquisition of ICT skills. xii. To empower the youth with ICT skills and prepare them for global competitiveness. xiii. To integrate ICT into the mainstream of education and training. xiv. To create ICT awareness and ensure universal access in order to promote ICT diffusion in all sectors of the State. xv. To create an enabling environment and facilitate private sector (Urban and Rural Communities) investment in the ICT sector. xvi. To stimulate the private sector to become the driving force for ICT creativity and enhanced productivity and competitiveness. xvii. To encourage government and private sector joint venture collaboration. xviii. To enhance internet security and law enforcement within the State. xix. To establish new multi-faceted I-hub institutions as centers of excellence to ensure Bauchi State’s competitiveness in interstate and international markets. xx. To develop human capital with emphasis on creating and supporting a knowledge-based society. xxi. To create Special Incentive Programs (SIPs) to induce investment in the ICT sector. xxii. To generate additional revenue generation in the state through expanded indigenous ICT products and services. xxiii. To strengthen state identity and unity. xxiv. To build a mass pool of ICT literate manpower in the society using “train the trainer” Scheme (TTT) for capacity building. xxv. To set up Advisory standards for education, working practices and industry.
