…NITDA, NCC, others to downscale training model
By Seun Adams
Towards the realization of Nigeria’s digital economy drive, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Ibrahim Pantami, has empowered 100 Nigerian youths with Information Technology (IT), digital and ICT devices in furtherance of President Muhammadu Buhari’s empowerment agenda.
Making the disclosure at the presentation ceremony, the Minister explained that in the march towards Nigeria’s 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) digital skill is no longer optional but a necessary skill, adding that, IT sector is the key enabler of the economy.
The laptops with one year Internet free subscription, and cash were presented to the over100 beneficiaries, in Abuja.
He said: “This is a digital training organized by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy in order to create more jobs opportunities for our youths, citizens within and outside the country.
“This is the third one but still we are in the pilot phase, trying to validate the model we have developed. We try to study the existing gaps in digital world, come up with training to fill the gap.
“This is what we have been doing, it is all about creating jobs for our citizens inline with the priority issues of the President Muhammad Buhari Administration, particularly in the area of economic empowerment.
“Within this period we want to organize 6 trainings with minimum of 100 participants in each geo-political zones in the country. When we are comfortable with the training, the same model will be replicated by Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Galaxy Backbone, National Identity Management Commission(NIMC) and other agencies for implementation and to continue with the trainings.”
“To be fair, the only criteria is to be able to read and write, however the trainings are many, it all depends on the specific training you want to partake. When it is a basic training you only need to be able to read and write, for intermediary training you need the basic knowledge to be available while on advance training you will discover that the requirements, conditions are many, it all depend on the training you want to partake in, but to be fair it is free for all our Citizens.
In a remark the Director of Information Communications Technology (ICT), in the Ministry Mr Samuel Okoye, urged participants to use the acquired digital skills to transform their businesses.
The Director adviced the beneficiaries to use the skills learnt to better the Nigerian Society especially the digital space.