By Julius Peter
Senator Sunday Marshall Katung has explained that his decision to establish a 700-capacity Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre in Southern Kaduna is aimed at bridging the digital divide and equipping young people in the region with relevant skills for the modern economy.
Katung, who represents Kaduna South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, said the project was conceived as part of efforts to expand access to digital education, improve computer literacy and create opportunities for youths to participate meaningfully in Nigeria’s increasingly technology-driven economy.
According to the senator, the proposed facility will provide a platform where young people can acquire practical digital skills and access computer-based learning and assessment services without having to travel long distances to urban centres.
The 700-capacity centre is expected to serve students, job seekers, entrepreneurs and other residents who require access to ICT facilities for education, professional development, examinations and other digital activities.
Katung said the project was particularly important because the digital divide remained a major challenge confronting young people in many rural and underserved communities, including parts of Southern Kaduna.
He noted that access to technology had become increasingly important in education, employment, entrepreneurship and public services, stressing that young people could not be fully prepared for the future without adequate exposure to digital tools and skills.
The senator said the centre would therefore go beyond providing computers, as it would serve as a hub for digital learning, skills development and other technology-related activities.
He explained that the initiative was driven by the need to give constituents greater access to opportunities created by the digital economy while also supporting students preparing for computer-based examinations.
The establishment of a modern CBT facility, he said, would help reduce the challenges faced by candidates who have to travel outside their communities to sit for examinations conducted electronically.
The project is also expected to support the growing demand for computer-based testing as educational institutions, recruitment agencies and other organisations increasingly adopt digital examination systems.
Katung maintained that investing in ICT infrastructure was an investment in the future of the younger generation, particularly at a time when digital competence had become a critical requirement for employment and entrepreneurship.
He said the centre would help create an enabling environment for young people to develop skills that could make them more competitive within Nigeria and the global labour market.
The senator further emphasised the importance of ensuring that people in Southern Kaduna were not left behind as technology continued to transform different sectors of the economy.
He said providing access to modern ICT infrastructure would enable youths to explore opportunities in areas such as software development, digital marketing, online learning, e-commerce and other emerging fields.
Beyond youths, the facility is expected to benefit students and other members of the community who need reliable access to computers and digital resources.
Katung’s initiative is coming amid growing national efforts to expand digital inclusion and strengthen the capacity of young Nigerians to participate in the digital economy.
Stakeholders have consistently identified inadequate ICT infrastructure, limited digital skills and unequal access to technology as some of the barriers preventing many Nigerians, particularly those in rural communities, from fully benefiting from digital opportunities.
The Southern Kaduna project is therefore expected to contribute to efforts to address some of these challenges at the grassroots level.
Katung said his focus was not only on physical infrastructure but also on creating opportunities that could have a lasting impact on the lives of his constituents.
He stressed that empowering young people with knowledge and skills was one of the most effective ways of preparing them for future challenges and enabling them to contribute to economic development.
The 700-capacity ICT and CBT centre is consequently being positioned as a major intervention in digital infrastructure for Southern Kaduna, with the potential to support education, skills acquisition and access to technology-driven opportunities.
The senator expressed optimism that the facility would make a meaningful difference in the lives of residents, particularly young people, by bringing modern digital resources closer to the communities they serve.
