The government has allocated over 9 billion shillings for the financial year 23/24 to support the development and market entry of various innovations and technologies aimed at addressing societal challenges.

Deputy Minister of Education, Science, and Technology, Hon. Omary Kipanga, made this announcement during the opening of the cerebration of the sixth anniversary of the Centre of Excellence For ICT in East Africa at the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology.

Hon. Kipanga stated that the government's responsibility is to create an enabling environment by establishing infrastructure and implementing policies that foster the growth of ICT expertise in the East African region.

Prof. Maulilio Kipanyula, Vice Chancellor of the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, highlighted the Centre for Competence in Information Technology's successful track record over the past six years. The centre has produced 136 graduates from member countries of the East African community who have made significant contributions to solving societal challenges through their innovative ideas.

Prof. Gaspard Banyakimbona, Executive Secretary of the Inter-University Council Of East Africa (IUCEA), expressed the union's commitment to continuing cooperation in providing education in the digital field, aligning with the advancements of the fourth and fifth industrial revolutions in technology.

The event of celebrating Centre of Excellence in ICT six-year anniversary is sponsored by the German Government through Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), under the coordination of the East African Community and the Inter-University Council Of East Africa (IUCEA). It brought together stakeholders from various countries.