NORTHERN PROVINCE GICUMBI — The minister of Local Government, Protais Musoni has advised Gicumbi district residents to embrace ICT in order to accelerate development in the area. Musoni was speaking as chief guest at the commissioning of the Gicumbi district Community Telecenter on Monday. “ICT is an efficient and modern way of sharing information of importance between government entities and the people at all levels to accelerate economic development in the shortest time possible,” said Musoni, calling on residents to take on literacy training. He was flanked by the minister in the office of the President in charge of Science, Technology and Scientific Research, Prof. Romain Murenzi. Prof. Murenzi said Government intends to extend Internet services to all Rwandans by the year 2012- in order to enable citizens acquire knowledge and make research on income generating activities to eradicate poverty. “ICT development is in line with the East African Community (EAC) goals because it shall enable students in all schools to master the English language,” he said. At the function, the area governor, Boniface Rucagu called upon residents to maintain peace and security in the country. “You should desist from genocide ideology and other related evils that create insecurity and retard economic development,” said Rucagu. During the same function, students who had successfully completed short courses in ICT at the Telecenter were awarded certificates. The district Mayor Bonane Nyangezi, the Director General of Rwanda Information Technology Authority (RITA), Bakuramutsa Nkubito and the Mayors of Muhanga, Nyamagabe, and Burera were among those present. Ends