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| Kigali, Rwanda |
RESIDENTS
of Nyamasheke district, Western Province, have been urged to make use
of the available Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to
speed up their socio-economic development.
Addressing
the residents last week, Rosemary Mbabazi, the permanent secretary in
the Ministry of Youth and ICT, said ICT use is central to economic
transformation. She was in Nyamasheke as part of the ongoing ICT
literacy and awareness campaign.
"Businesses
can't develop without ICT. That's why ICT is crucial in whatever we
do," Mbabazi said. "We are talking about the development of
the private sector, businesses and local people."
The
event attracted thousands of residents, business operators,
representatives of banks and other financial institutions, public
institutions as well as telecomunication companies.
At
the function, various companies showcased their innovations and use
of ICT, especially online and SMS-based services they offer to the
population.
Mbabazi
told Nyamasheke residents that ICT is part of everyday life and
emphasised the need to embrace it. She cited agriculture, education
and livestock farming, among other sectors, as some areas where ICT
use can make significant impact.
The
district mayor, Jean Baptiste Habyarimana, said 45 per cent of
residents own mobile phones. He said the target is to bring the
number to at least 70 per cent by 2017.
Habyarimana
said to achieve the target, local leaders will work hand-in-hand with
other partners to educate the community on the benefits of using
available technological resources and equipment.
He
also said the district will work to ease access to Internet in public
institutions, schools and other businesses.
Initiated
by the Ministry of Youth and ICT in collaboration with other
ministries as well as its various stakeholders in ICT promotion, the
five-year ICT literacy awareness campaign was launched in January in
Rulindo district, Northern Province.
Its
purpose is to drive the awareness and use of ICT services, content
and applications to increase ICT literacy, educate and train the
masses and businesses on the potential of ICT to drive
competitiveness, efficiency, transparency as well as civic
participation.
New
Times Rwanda