By Mustapha Salisu
HOTPEN – A Non-Governmental Organisation, Centre for Information Technology and Development, CITAD, has flagged up the 1st phase of Train-The-Trainer Capacity Development Program for School of Community Network (SCN) Project Supported by National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
Hotpen witnessed the launching ceremony at Hall B, CITAD Office in Kano and gathered from remarks of the Executive Director of the Centre, Engr. Y.Z Ya’u that, the program is designed to hold for 5 days and is aimed at bridging the gap of digital divide by empowering people with access to digital skills.
Engr. Ya’u added that 2000 people will be targeted in the first year by training a set of trainers who will train others in their respective communities on how to bridge the gap of digital divide, become job creators rather than job seekers and by extension reducing the poverty rate in the country.
“The training is divided into three key dimensions which are ICT skills, Capacity to Develop Network and Digital literary” Ya’u hinted.
Speaking while declaring 1st phase of the Training Open, Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi, Represented by Head of Digital Technology, Adoption, Digital Literacy and Skill Unit, Dr Ayodele Bakare, said access to broadband has created is a huge gap of digital divide between dwellers of urban and rural communities.
According to Dr Bakare, “among objectives of the project is to provide dwellers of unserved and underserved communities with digital literacy and skills so that they can build community networks and also sustain them.”
“Also another objective is to empower communities with skills to partake in the 4th industrial revolution which is powered by digital revolution and by extension contribute to the digital economy of the country.
“To also ensure that Nigerians are prepared to be able to apply and participate in the over 7 to 8 million digital jobs available without leaving the country to make foreign currencies abroad.”
Participants who spoke at the event, Babangida Ahmad and Sadik Abubakar Waziri said some activities outlined for them to benefit during the 5 days training are: computer networking, V-Sat Installation, graphic designing, emerging technologies among other impactful, interesting, and well coordinated programs.
“Indeed as you can see NITDA and CITAD are fully ready to equip us with digital skills which we shall relay back to our communities upon successful completion” they added.”
“We therefore, are really grateful to NITDA and CITAD for giving us the opportunity to be part of this training and we wish to see ourselves competing with other digital experts in bridging the gap of digital divide by connecting the unconnected”