By ZAKAA LAZARUS, Abuja.
The Director General, National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Yushu’a Ahmed has pledged the readiness of the Scheme towards achieving the objectives of the Digital Literacy For All Programme of the Federal Government.
He said the initiative is a crucial step in Nigeria’s journey to enhance productivity in all sectors.
General Ahmed stated this today in his opening remarks at the Flag-Off Ceremony of Digital Literacy For All, held at Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre, Minna, Niger State
The Director General stated further that the programme, which is targeted at training 30 million Nigerians in the informal sector and rural areas on digital literacy is a significant step for the country to achieve 70 percent digital literacy by 2027.
“The idea of empowering Nigerians with digital skills is a game changer that will revolutionize key economic activities, such as buying, trading, craftsmanship among others.
This will not only boost the fortunes of our people, but also accelerate the overall national development.
I want to assure Nigerians that we are fully committed to the success of this project”, he said.
He also disclosed that Corps Members have been using the opportunity of NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme to train other youths on the deployment of ICT tools.
General Ahmed expressed gratitude to the Management of NITDA for giving NYSC the opportunity to contribute to the project, and also for the support being given to the Scheme especially by training Corps Members on digital economy.
In his welcome address, the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi said the initiative was conceived after President Bola Tinubu directed the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy on the need to diversify the Nigerian economy by enhancing productivity in the critical sectors such as agriculture, healthcare among others, using technological innovation.
He said there is the need for every Nigerian to be digitally literate in order to benefit from the programme.
The NITDA boss added that the target audience for the programme is wide, hence, the need for collaboration with the NYSC because of the Scheme’s presence in all the nooks and crannies of the country.
He said in every State, 80 Corps Members would be trained extensively and equipped as NITDA Champions, who will thereafter train other Members of the public on digital literacy.
“We want each Corps Member to train at least 60 Nigerians every month.
All Nigerians should know how to use information and internet spaces because things are changing. Very soon we will have digital literacy as a course in our schools’ curriculum”, Abdullahi said.
In his keynote address, the Minister of State For Youth Development, Mr Olawande Ayodele commended the Niger State Governor for his friendly disposition to NYSC in the State and especially, his focus on youth development in both the formal and informal sectors of the national economy.
He urged youths to avail themselves of the opportunities from the various economic empowerment programmes of the Federal Government, that were created to improve their standards of living.
While flagging-off the programme, the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago lauded the collaboration between NITDA and NYSC, adding that; “this initiative is a novel idea as it will increase economic growth and productivity”.
He added that Niger State has keyed into digital literacy for all, having earlier partnered some reputable institutions for the creation of digital hubs.
Governor Bago added that his State is also collaborating with NITDA to encourage digital literacy to cushion the effects of climate change and environmental degradation
