FG empowers 100 Nigerians with digital tools
By Ogaga Ariemu
The federal Government through the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami has empowered 100 Nigerians with digital tools inline with President Muhammadu Buhari’s economic development drive.
This was the highpoint of the closing ceremony and presentation of digital tools of the digital job creation training programme held on Wednesday 6th January in Abuja.
The presentation was witnessed by Nigerian NewsDirect Newspaper.
In his remarks, the Minister Dr. Pantami explained that Digital skill is not optional but a necessary skill, noting that this is because the Information Technology sector is the key enabler of the economy.
The major highlight of the event was the presentation of digital tools consisting of Laptops, free one year Internet subscription, and cash to 100 beneficiaries by the Minister.
Dr. Pantami said Health, security, agriculture, Education and every sectors rely on digital Technologies to strive.
Stating the significant of the programme, Dr. Isa emphasized that digital skill has become a useful competence across sectors.
He reaffirmed that the focus of the world today is on skills rather than certificates.
He adviced that Nigerians should be patient and be ambiquitiuos in digital skill acquisitions.
“This is a digital training organized by The Federal Government under the supervision of the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy in order to create more jobs opportunities for our 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 President Muhammad Buhari particularly in the area of economic development.
“Within this period we want to organize Six 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 transmitted to all Parastatals; Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Galaxy Backbone, National Identity Management Commission and others 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.
Meanwhile in his goodwill message, the Managing Director, Galaxy Backbone, Prof Abubakar Muhammed lauded the Minister for walking the talking by making sure the job creation programme is realized.
Earlier in his opening remarks the director of Information Communications Technology (ICT), federal ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Mr Samuel Okoye he urged participants to use the acquired digital skills to transform their businesses.
He noted that the training have been able to develop the digital skills of participants inline with objective of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy(NDEPS).
He adviced the beneficiary to use the skills learnt to better the Nigerian Society especially the digital space.
One of the participant Saheed Aiyegboka appreciated the Minister for the opportunity, stating that the skills learnt will greatly impact his life.
Similarly, another participant Dorcas Kowa said that she has learned how to operate her business digitally, expressing that the opportunity will propelled her business exponentially in the Internet space.
