The director-general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi has restated the Federal Government’s resolve to prioritise turning Nigeria into a leading hub for talent and innovation in Africa.
Abdullahi said this at the closing ceremony of a five-day digital literacy training for mainstream rural women participation and gender techpreneurship and provision of IT Tools for 60 participants organised by NITDA in Oyo town, Oyo State.
The NITDA DG, who was represented by the acting director, corporate planning and strategy, Dr. Aristotle Onumo urged the participants to utilise the knowledge and skills the training afforded them to build a career and a new future for themselves in the digital economy space.
He described the training programme as a means of “empowering the youths and stimulating the creativity in improving the studious skills of our young people so that they can play their critical roles in the digital economy space.
“Also, we hope that all that your learning will not end here, but you will become an advocate of the digital economy programmes by reaching out to your people and teaching them what you have learnt,” he added.
The NITDA boss emphasised the importance of creating a supportive environment to maximise the benefits of the digital economy and technology for individuals and communities, including the agency’s beneficiaries.
The facilitator of the training and chairman, House Committee on Communications, Hon. Prince Akeem Adeniyi Adeyemi commended the efforts of the agency and its supervisory ministry, the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy for ensuring that digital literacy is penetrating every nook and cranny of the country.
“NITDA has been living [up to] to expectation by ensuring that the economy of this country is driven not only by oil but by ICT.”
Adeyemi advised the youths to utilise these skills and knowledge the training offered them and ensure that the community also benefits from it.
“We shall not rest on our oars until a critical mass of our youths benefit from digital literacy,” he added.
Participants in the five-day training were equipped with a laptop, internet dongle and cash stipends for the establishment of micro-enterprises.
