SPEECH: Milestone Achievement in the Ekiti State Digital Transformation Programme

Address by

His Excellency Dr. Kayode FAYEMI

Governor, Ekiti State, Nigeria

on the Occasion of the

Phase 1 of the Optical Fibre Laying Project for Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria


I am delighted to welcome you all to this landmark ceremony which is another giant stride in this administration’s determination to make Ekiti State a digital state thereby making it possible for us to join the world information technology super highway. This ground breaking ceremony which I am about to perform is therefore a major milestone in the Ekiti Digital Transformation Programme. This project which is the first phase of the Optical Fibre Cable Laying Project for the capital city of Ado-Ekiti, is an outcome of the MoU signed between the Government of Ekiti State, Nigeria and IpNX Nigeria Limited in June, 2013.

Fibre Optic Cable technology is the fastest means of transmitting data. A single strand of fibre cable can transmit up to 100 gigabits per sec, making it possible to simultaneously carry video, internet and telephone calls effectively. Due to its capacity for almost limitless data speed, fibre-optics is the true enabler of broadband services.

With the infrastructure of fibre optics-based broadband being available in Ekiti State, the foundation is being laid for transforming the way the honourable people of Ekiti State live, work, do business and play. It is the objective of this administration to make internet access a household tool in Ekiti State as leverage for achieving our 8-Point transformation agenda.

This Phase of work will cover about eight kilometers from the Government Data Centre through Tantalizers, Fajuyi Park, Bank Road, State Secretariat, GRA/Onigari and Christ’s School; all in Ado-Ekiti. The project would be implemented over the next 8 weeks.

The following services are expected to be provided via fibre optic cable in the areas covered:

High speed internet access to home or offices at an affordable price
Wifi hotspot at Fajuyi Park
Telephone call services
Video Conferencing
Cable TV on demand (with many channels)
Safe city security cameras
e-Education
e-Health
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, you will all agree with me that this project is a major step towards transforming Ekiti State into the “Bangalore of Africa”. This is a giant leap towards removing Ekiti State from the cadre considered as ‘Civil Service States’, where Government is the main ‘Industry’ and federal allocations is the lifeblood of the economy. We need to diversify and organically transform our economy and convert our renowned Intellectual Capital to prosperity for our people.

This is the same thinking that has informed this progressive administration’s recent inauguration of a Steering Committee tasked with advising government on the setting up of the novel Ekiti Knowledge Zone. This administration is committed to converting our brain into brawn by accelerating development, skipping less efficient routes and moving directly to more advanced stages such as a knowledge-based economy – a system of consumption and production that is based more on intellectual capital much more than on physical inputs or natural resources.

The advantages of a broadband connected capital city cannot be over emphasised. The potential for unlocking the entrepreneurial capacity in our youth is limitless. The possibility of stimulating the growth of existing businesses and catalysing the establishment of new ones is unbounded.

In spite of our state’s limited resources and competing priorities, we have taken this bold step in embracing the future. We have moved in the direction of greater efficiency and effectiveness in our daily lives and work. This is an investment in the future. It is the bridge that would connect our today with the enablement to achieve our vision of a preferred tomorrow. It is that vision that I commend to everyone this morning; see it, believe it, and embrace it. See the Ekiti of our dreams with your mind’s eye, believe it is achievable, and passionately embrace a future filled with immense opportunities made possible by a Digital Ekiti.

It is on this note that I formally kick-off this laudable project to the glory of God and the benefit of the people of the land of honour, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

Ekiti is going Digital; Just Keep Faith.

Thank you.

Dr. Kayode Fayemi

Governor of Ekiti State, Nigeria

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

http://ekitistate.gov.ng/2013/09/speech-milestone-achievement-in-the-ekiti-state-digital-transformation-programme/

Nice! It's time i visit ma folks in Ado!