FG inaugurates 2021-2023 Council of Computer Professionals, tasks them on standards
By Rosemary Ogbonnaya
The Federal Government had on Thursday, inaugurated 2021-2023
Council of Computer Professionals (Registration Council of Nigeria), CPN, charging the members on proper regulations to ensure standards and best practices in the Nigerian Information Technology, IT.
Speaking at the inauguration, the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu informed the Council members that his Ministry is conscious of their efforts at enforcing the Act that established CPN by making it mandatory for all individuals and corporate organisations that are practicing Information Technology in Nigeria to register with the Council.
Adamu said that CPN has the Ministry’ support in its fight against quacks, impostors and all irregularities in the IT industry.
He said that Nigerian government is committed to making Nigeria a giant IT compliant economy.
Lauding CPN for aligning with the vision through its various programmes and activities that were geared towards making the vision a reality, Adamu enjoined the Council members to comeup with initiatives that will help government achieve this set objectives.
Represented by the Minister of State for Education, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, Adamu enjoined the Council to partner with government at ensuring that they turn out new generations of youths that are properly equipped with IT knowledge and skills and positioned for global competitiveness.
According to the Minister, the establishment of CPN is government’s way of demonstrating its commitment to the development and deployment of IT in Nigeria.
“Therefore, the establishment of CPN is Government’s way of demonstrating its commitment to the development and deployment of Information Technology in Nigeria. Today, the conduct of government business has become knowledge-intensive on account of the need for the deployment and application of ICT know-how towards our socio-economic growth and development.
“The task of nation building through Information Technology is an enormous one, but it is something we can do. We are all aware of what a dynamic and progressive policy in Information Technology has done for many countries around the world. With our determination, commitment and professionalism, we can attain and surpass their record.
“I wish to remind members of CPN that, the nation’s expectations and hopes are high, but the caliber of the Council members gives me confidence that this Council has competent hands to face the challenges of regulating the fastest developing profession in the world. It is a profession through which our lives have been affected and transformed by virtue of our deployment of Information Technology in the execution of our tasks.
“It is against this background that the present government is extending its support and assistance to your professional body in order to enable it realize its set objectives of accelerated Information Technology growth and penetration in Nigeria,” he said.
Adamu, therefore, promised the Council the Ministry’s support to achieve its set goals and assist the management in relocating staff members from Lagos to Abuja.
Speaking earlier, the President/Chairman of Council, Kole Jagun said CPN has come a long way in its bid to reposition the Information Technology industry in Nigeria for the sustainable developments of the industry and the nation.
Explaining further, Jagun said CPN was established by an Act of Parliament, Act 49 of 1993 to regulate and supervise the computing industry in Nigeria.
He said, CPN will leverage on the relationship between the Council and the Federal Ministry Education, saying that they are going to work more with the Minister and his Management Team to ensure that Information Technology Education is entrenched in the country.
The Council’s president said that Information Technology has also become a revenue source for the federal government, which, if properly harnessed, may even surpass other forms of revenue source.
“The time is now, to use our creative talents to look inwards and create other sources of revenue for government.
“Series of programmes have been embarked on to bring about a sharp
improvement in Information Technology development in Nigeria and make it a veritable tool for foreign exchange earning in Nigeria. Additionally, the actualization of our youth’s potentials in Information Technology is being taken seriously,” he added.
Meanwhile, in the cause of the inauguration, the CPN president appealed to the Minister to help the Council in relocation of their staff members to Abuja.