ICT Training For Niger Delta Youths Estimated At N161m

oke efagene

August 19, 2014 2:11 PM

Plans have been set in motion by the federal government to train selected Niger Delta youths in Malaysia on ICT skills.

Huawei in collaboration with the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, is set to train 41 youths from the region in Information and Communication Technology in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

This was disclosed on Monday by the office which has estimated the total cost of the project at over N161m ($100m).

The 41 beneficiaries of the special scholarship programme would study at Huawei Global Training Centre for 6 months following after a two-week orientation and basic training to develop their ICT skills.

The modules will include Telecoms Technical Training, Practical Sessions, Telecoms Certification, Internship and Entrepreneurial Skills Training.

According to the organizers, the trainees will be qualified to be employed in ICT companies, Information Technology departments in other industries or start their own business after the training programme.

The Technical Adviser to the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Lawrence Pepple, explained that the programme was part of the special adviser’s strategy to empower Nigerian youths with technology skills for global competitiveness.

He said: "It is also part of Huawei’s strategy of technology transfer and localisation."

Pepple also said the special adviser supported the Federal Government's efforts in ICT skills acquisition and that the partnership with a technology company was to empower young people to enhance their contribution to national development.

The General Manager of Huawei Nigeria, Julius Akhalumenyo, affirmed Huawei's commitment to enabling more Nigerian youths to get involved in the ICT industry.

Akhalumenyo says ICTs have the power to accelerate the development of a country by helping its youths to be more efficient and effective in their jobs, careers and business, and to generate new employment opportunities.

"It also has the potential to significantly contribute to increasing the social welfare of the country in general," he said.

He added, "We wish these young talents will play a leading role in the future to serve the ICT industry and to serve the country. It is part of Huawei's global 'Telecom Seeds for the Future' campaign.

"A better connected Nigeria through ICT will achieve information resolution and social transformation to lead the economy growth of Africa."

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