The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in collaboration with Ascend Studios Foundation, has announced the launch of the Creative Technology Programme (CTP) 2022 to develop and retain creative technology talents in Nigeria for promoting career skills and proving job opportunities among the beneficiaries.
“The goal of the programme,” NITDA DG, Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi said, “is to enable, nurture and upskill creative technology talents in persons into viable career options and create an ecosystem that will boost the economic potential of all participants. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the existing digital skills gap and resulted in millions of job losses – disrupting the global landscape and leaving many with speculations on the world’s recovery mechanism. Therefore, this level of training is crucial.”
Similarly, the president, Ascend Studios Foundation, Dr. Inya Lawal said: “We are delighted that NITDA has partnered with us, as our goal is to bridge the creative technology skill gap Nigeria has and produce top professionals in gaming, animation and augmented reality whose work can compete globally”.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has embarked on several initiatives to upskill and reskill Nigerians in line with the national agenda for a digital economy – a component of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) – as part of efforts towards the development of the NITDA Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP) and achieve the NDEPS.
To continue to provide massive employment opportunities through digital skills, NITDA kick-started a project to train one million software developers in the country. Therefore, the NITDA- Ascend Studios Foundation, CTP will enable the participants to gain new skills that will help them take their ventures to the next level and formulate a strong network for sharing ideas and experiences.
As the creative economy rapidly transforms the global economic landscape and the technology skills gap between Africa and other continents widen, technology literacy is fast becoming a fundamental right and a springboard for Africans to engage and participate in today’s world. The need and demand for creative and digital technology skills is more than ever before. The programme will find talents in animation, games and AR who will contribute positively to Nigeria’s economy and its relation to career/business opportunities within creative technology.
CTP is supported by the HOW Foundation, Africa Creative Market, Paramount Africa, Global Wissen Consult, Entertainment IP Germany and the Animation Excellence Cluster in Germany.
Interested applicants can apply via the link https://bit.ly/2022ctp
A statement co-signed by the head, corporate affairs and external relations, NITDA, Mrs. Hadiza Umar and the president, Ascend Studios Foundation, Dr. Inya Lawal said the application portal opens on November 3 and closes on November 11, 2022, while the programme will run from November 21 to December 7, 2022.
