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NEDC empowers 198 ICT trainees in Gombe with cash, starter packs

NEDC empowers 198 ICT trainees in Gombe with cash, starter packs

The North-East Development Commission (NEDC) has graduated and presented starter packs to 198 youths trained on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills in computer graphics and smartphone repairs in Gombe State.

Mr Mohammed Goni Alkali, the Managing Director of NEDC said the ceremony was for the first batch of youths that participated in the ICT skills acquisition training conducted at the commission’s centre in Gombe.

Alkali said the training was in line with the National Agenda on ICT development in Nigeria to fast-track Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of the Federal Government.

He said the commission recognised the critical role of technology in developing inclusive, knowledge-driven and prosperous economy, adding that in recent time, all sectors of human endeavours depended on technology to make impact.

The MD stated that 61, 026 candidates applied for the training in the Northeast but due to the present carrying capacity of the six centres, it admitted only 1, 200 in the first batch, and in Gombe State, 198 trainees were graduating.

According to him, another set of 1,200 candidates have  been invited to participate in the second batch of training which will begin soon in all the six states of the Northeast.

He said that the presentation of the free starter packs and the sum of N20, 000 to each of the 198 successful graduands marked the completion of the first batch of the training.

Alkali said that the Federal Government’s intervention through NEDC in entrepreneurship and ICT training was to empower youth, make them self-reliant and turn them into employers of labour.

He also made other donations as part of the commission’s effort toward supporting the Federal Government and Gombe State’s fight against the second wave of COVID-19.

“ In line with the need to protect against COVID-19, especially among children in both public and private schools, security agencies and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) we donate the following:

“10, 000 pieces of branded facemasks for public primary schools, 5,000 for private primary schools; 4,000 branded facemasks for military and other security agencies and 5, 000 branded facemasks for NURTW.

“Two thousand assorted hand santisers, 100 pieces of infrared thermometers for primary schools,” he said.

Alkali also donated several materials to aid learning to public day and boarding schools as well as private schools while relief materials were donated to flood victims in Nafada Local Government Area of the state.

He said that the commission,  having  observed the role played by the agriculture sector, had also provided agricultural machinery and equipment, seeds, fertilisers, agrochemical and other logistics to enhance the production capacity of smallholder farmers in the sub-region.

The MD said there were other Rapid Response Intervention (RRI) Projects in education, health and agriculture in the state, while plans were on to build three mega schools and construct 500 houses.

The Chairman Senate committee on special duties, Senator Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf who doubles as the chairman ofcthe occasion cautioned the beneficiaries against selling starter packs, adding that it was for their use to impact the economy and empower others.

Gov. Yahaya, on his part, thanked  President Muhammadu Buhari for empowering the youths through ICT skills, stressing that the state had also keyed into the digital economy to empower its citizens.

Yahaya said that his administration would continue to welcome partnerships in ICT in view of the huge potential it holds in job creation.

One of the beneficiaries, Salihu Mohammed, while commending the Federal Government and the NEDC, told our correspondent that the ICT knowledge and the starter packs given to him would empower him to be “self-reliant and productive.”

The starter packs include printers, laptops and tools for smartphones repairs.

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