Firm trains 460 youths, women on digital skills in Niger
By Mohammed Baba Busu
A firm, Ubelle/Neo Cloud Consortium, has trained 450 indigent youths and women on digital skills in Niger.
Dr Ali Johnson-Onoja, Managing Director of the firm stated this at the graduation ceremony for the Digital Skill training and inauguration of an internship business pitching programme in Suleja on Tuesday.
Johnson-Onoja said that the training, which included digital marketing, data analysis and cyber security was done in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education under its Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) project.
He explained that the beneficiaries were selected from amongst the more than 900 young people who indicated interest when the programme began in December 2023.
Johnson-Onoja said that the graduands have been equipped with the tools and knowledge necessary to thrive in the digital age.
The managing director said that the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Education, had launched the World Bank-supported IDEAS project to enhance the country’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system.
He said: “this initiative aims to improve skills acquisition by involving industry stakeholders and attracting private sector resources to the formal training system.
“The programme focuses on inclusivity, welcoming individuals of all genders, backgrounds, and physical abilities.
“It aims to provide participants with holistic preparation for entry-level job opportunities through hands-on training and internships aligned with industry standards.
“Ubelle Nigeria Limited and Neo Cloud Technologies Consortium were among the 14 private sector organisations selected as grantees of the Innovation Grant Funding (IGF) under the IDEAS Project to pioneer implementation of the project in November 2023.
“Our is currently being implemented at the Fabsi Institute of Entrepreneurship in Suleja “.
Johnson-Onoja said that the aim was to equip the eligible youths, especially women, the physically-challenged and the vulnerable, with digital skills training and certification.
“We believe that this is an important project that needs national and international attention to expand its scope, empower our youths and entrepreneurship,” he said.
He explained that the trainers have obtained various certificates in the basic, intermediary and advance categories from internationally recognised certification bodies.
Johnson-Onoja said that the graduands would be mentored into getting jobs in the evolving digital market place and as well make many of them self-employed individuals, business owners and entrepreneurs
“We live in a time where digital literacy is not just an advantage but a necessity. This is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration, ” he added.
In his remarks, Mallam Muhammad Awwal- Ibrahim, the Emir of Suleja, represented by Alh. Dalhatu Adamu, Makama Zazzau, Suleja, and District Head of Magajiya, commended the organisers for bringing the programme to his domain.
He appealed to other NGOs and philanthropists to bring more of such programmes to his Emirate.
The emir urged the beneficiaries to judiciously use the skills acquired for themselves and for the benefit of others in the society.
He warned them against deploying the skills for criminal activities in the cyber space that would endanger their lives.
Mr Olarinoye Shedrack, one of the graduands, commended the organisers for the opportunity.
He promised that they would use the skills to improve their lives and support the socioeconomic development of Niger and the country in general.(NAN)
