By Correspondent in Minna
No fewer than one hundred and forty youths (140) young men and ladies have been trained in various Information and Communication Technology (ICT), techniques, courtesy of Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, representing Niger-East Senatorial district at the Upper National Assembly.
The Reporters reports that beneficiaries were drawn from the nine local government areas that made up Niger East; Chanchaga, Bosso, Paikoro, Gurara, Suleja, Tafa, Shiroro, Munya and Rafi Local Government Areas.
The the online publication reports that the five-day training is expected to make the beneficiaries self-reliant covered; Computer appreciation, web-design, digital poster and banner designs as well as digital card designs.
Addressing the beneficiaries shortly before the closing ceremony in Minna, Senator Musa said he decided to train the youths to empower them with requisite skills that would make them job creators and not job seekers.
The training, according to him,is anchored by the National Information and Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Abuja, which provided the facilities and facilitators for the training.
Senator Musa, who expressed sadness over the alarming rate of youth indulgence in drug abuse and political thuggery, admonished parents to be on the guard against peer pressure and influences which had ruined the life and dreams of Nigeria’s future leaders.
“I have children at home and as a father, I will not allow my children be on the streets engaged in political thuggery or drug abuse. I will also try my best possible to see that other people’s children do not go on the streets to become social nuisance”.
“I also believe that our youths have the potential to be at their best if given the necessary support, hence, the training is geared toward making them realise their dreams and put their potential into profitable use.
“ICT is very important as the driver of modern economy. “We have to match what advanced countries are going to use against us in the nearest future. And that is ICT. We have to start learning it today”.
the legislator said.
Senator Musa said that in addition to to the training,at least,300 youths;male and female were currently undergoing training in crop production at the Niger State Technology Incubation Centre, Minna and other aspects of science and technology at the Industrial Trust Fund, (ITF).
“Also, training will soon commence for 180 Science and Technology teachers in the senatorial district, to be facilitated by the Institute of Scientific Innovation with 20 beneficiaries to be selected from each of the nine local government Areas that make up the senatorial zone,” he hinted.
The Senator also told the audience that 1,000 secondary and tertiary schools students would benefit from a scholarship scheme he had instituted to assist indigent children in the zone to study any course of their choice in any Nigerian university.
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, who was represented by the Commissioner for Investment, Dr. Mustapha Jibril, had earlier commended Senator Musa for the gesture and expressed optimism that with the contributions and support by the lawmaker, the state government’s goal of reducing unemployment rate in the state would be realised.
Our correspondent reports that at the end of the training, Senator Musa gave N7 million as take+off grant to the 140 trainees with each of them going home with N50,000.
