In a bid to support information technology revolution that would extend the reach of economic and social interactions and enhance productivity growth in Nigeria, the Federal Government and Wema Bank’s ALAT have launched the Skillnovation programme.
The initiative will provide over three million Nigerians with the essential digital skills required to succeed in the global economy.
During the launch of the programme at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday, Vice President Kashim Shettima described Skillnovation as a transformative initiative that ushers in a new era of digital empowerment for Nigerians.
According to a statement by his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President said: “We are compelled to tread this path by the direction in which the world has headed, a world of disruptive technologies redefined by the fourth industrial revolution.
“This initiative is a response to the evolution of the modern business environment, an acknowledgement that digital skills have become the cornerstone of economic ease and expansion”.
Shettima said the gathering was one of the many to come and an occasion to reassure the nation that President Bola Tinubu was fully committed to supporting small businesses across Nigeria.
The Skillnovation programme will establish 15 state-of-the-art ICT centres strategically placed across Nigeria to provide individuals and businesses alike access to cutting-edge digital training, resources and support.
The first phase of the programme will focus on Katsina, Anambra, Borno, Lagos, Oyo and Kano while the second phase will include Delta, Kaduna, Ogun, Bauchi, Kwara and Ekiti.
Giving an insight into how the country would benefit from the programme, the vice president said, “Nigeria, with its expanding MSME sector of close to 40 million, has the potential to lead business innovation beyond Africa. The Skillnovation programme, therefore, aims to unlock this immense potential. The initiative is designed to provide the necessary tools and skills for our MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) to thrive and compete on the global stage”.
Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs, Mr. Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, emphasised the significance of the partnership, noting that government alone cannot address the challenges confronting Nigerians.
The Managing Director of Wema Bank, Mr. Moruf Oseni commended the passion of the government for empowering young Nigerians, even as he announced the establishment of skills training centres across 17 states, beginning with Lagos and Borno.
He said the programme would directly impact two million youths and one million small businesses across the benefitting states.
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Mr. Bosun Tijjani said President Tinubu administration’s would leverage the enthusiasm of youths in the technology space to launch Nigeria as a global power in the sector.
