22 February 2012 – Attempting to close a technology gap in Western Equatoria State, the UN Development Program (UNDP) concluded a 10-day Information Communication Technology (ICT) training for government officials today in the capital Yambio.

The training drew 15 participants from the Western Equatoria Secretariat office, Ministry of Public Service and Yambio Civil Hospital.

Topics included an introduction to computers as well as the Windows operating system, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and other ICT basics.

In closing remarks, State Ministry of Information Director General Anthony Moudig acknowledged the training's value in improving the performance of government officials.

"As we are entering a new nation, we require certain knowledge and skills that can help us to move ahead and realize development in our new country, South Sudan," the director general said.

Zinaw Zeleke, UNDP ICT Specialist said the training aimed to equip participants with basic computer skills "so that they can go back to their offices and use the skills to improve their performance and to make them able to use the facilities like computers they have in their offices."

Training participant Grace William Bakata from the State Secretariat office said she had found the training particularly useful.

"This is my first time to attend this kind of computer training," she said. "I got a lot of knowledge and skills on computer (from it). I hereby request the UNDP and our state government to continually train us ... in the future."

Emmanuel Anania Baime of the same office said the newly acquired ICT knowledge would significantly improve his day-to-day performance.

Mr. Zeleke noted that UNDP had offered a similar training course in October 2011 for 16 government officials. He called on donors to fund such capacity building efforts to enable a wider reach.