Digital State Initiative: Over 2000 Youths Benefit From Federal Government Pilot Programme

The Federal Government has trained 2,467 youths in Rivers, Lagos, Kano and Gombe States in the pilot programme of the Digital State Initiative.

The programme is part of the implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy for a Digital Nigeria, in line with the Economic Sustainability Plan.

The scheme which is driven by the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, is aimed at empowering youths with the required digital skills to thrive in the information age.

The Closing Ceremony of the pilot phase of the “Digital State Initiative” was presided over by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ibrahim Pantami virtually.

In his keynote address, the Minister called on the beneficiaries to build on the skills they have acquired over the two weeks period of intensive learning, stressing that Covid-19 created thousands of digital jobs where the youths could tap into.

Pantami said that there are global opportunities to be tapped into with the required digital skills, adding that Nigerian youths have proven to the world their innovative and creative talents.

He affirmed that the rebirth of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy under his stewardship is interested in championing a paradigm shift from focusing on paper qualifications to skills acquisition and development.

The Director General NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, said the scheme is designed to position the youths to benefit from digital economy, hence beneficiaries were empowered with productivity skills to create content and digital marketing skills which are perquisites to part of digital economy.