By Christiana Gokyo, Jos
Plateau State Governor, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to harnessing technology to improve governance, boost economic growth, strengthen education, and enhance security across the state.
The governor made this known while receiving members of the National Executive Council of the Nigerian Computer Society on a courtesy visit at the Government House, Rayfield, Jos.
Governor Mutfwang commended the Society for selecting Plateau State to host its forthcoming international conference despite negative narratives about the state.
He praised the leadership of the Society for relying on firsthand assessment rather than misinformation circulating on social media.
“I want to thank you for the confidence you have in us by agreeing to allow us to host this conference. I appreciate those of you who stood firmly and discountenanced the negative information about Plateau State,” the governor said.
Highlighting his administration’s digital transformation agenda, Mutfwang said the government is committed to bridging the technology gap through strategic investments and partnerships, despite existing ICT infrastructure challenges.
He disclosed that the state had reached an advanced stage in establishing a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) centre in Jos in collaboration with development partners.
“We have already conducted interviews, and about 600 applicants are ready to commence work,” he revealed.
The governor added that his administration would continue to expand digital governance by promoting e-governance, e-commerce, and other technology-driven initiatives aimed at improving public service delivery.
On security, Mutfwang said technology has become an indispensable tool in tackling insecurity across the state.
According to him, recent technological deployments gave security agencies a tactical advantage during an attack in Riyom Local Government Area.
“We are leveraging technology to address our security challenges, and because of these deployments, we were able to gain an advantage over the attackers,” he stated.
While acknowledging the immense opportunities presented by Artificial Intelligence (AI), the governor urged Nigerian ICT professionals to remain proactive in addressing the emerging risks associated with the rapidly evolving technology.
Earlier, President of the Nigerian Computer Society, Prof. Aliyu Sirajo, commended Governor Mutfwang for his administration’s achievements in digital innovation, describing Plateau as a deserving host for the Society’s international conference.
He said the selection of Plateau State was unanimously accepted, adding that an independent assessment team sent to evaluate the security situation found that conditions on the ground differed significantly from negative reports circulating online.
“The report we received after their visit was: ‘We do not see what the media is portraying and what people are saying,'” Sirajo said.
He also praised the hospitality of Plateau residents and attributed the prevailing atmosphere of peace and inclusiveness to Governor Mutfwang’s leadership.
According to him, hosting the conference will support the state’s drive to strengthen the digital economy and position Plateau as an emerging ICT hub capable of attracting technology companies, investors, innovators, and digital entrepreneurs.