By Sarah NEGEDU
No fewer than 460 young Nigerians have benefited from the World Bank-supported Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills, IDEAS, in Niger state.
The beneficiaries who received training in digital marketing, data analytics, and cybersecurity, say they are now equipped to thrive in the digital marketplace.
The beneficiaries stated this at the graduation ceremony of digital trainees, inauguration of internship programme and unveiling of Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd in Suleja on Tuesday.
Some of the graduands who spoke with journalists on the sidelines of the event, described the training by Ubelle Neo Cloud Technologies Consortium, under the IDEAS project as their inroad to digital economy.
A data analytics trainee, Khadijat Abubakar, said the training had equipped her with the necessary skills to tap from the huge opportunities that the digital economy provides.
“I now know how to clean, filter, sort and verify data among other data analytics skills. I am looking forward to a very bright future with my digital skills and hoping to become one of the best data analysts in the country by God’s grace.”
Another beneficiary, Olarin Shadrack, said that the training has equipped him with a digital marketing skill to be able to explore opportunities in the nation’s digital economy.
“I learned a lot about digital marketing and now in the comfort of my home and my little space, I can market my products and other people’s products in the digital space using digital devices.
“I am into agro-farming and other businesses. With my digital marketing experience, I can easily advertise myself online and showcase my talent and make money,” he said.
Similarly, a graphic designer Abdulrazak, said the training has given him the opportunity to sharpen his skills in data analysis.
“The IDEAS programme has provided me with the needed opportunity to achieve my long-time ambition of becoming a data analyst. I will now use my new acquired skills to solve real life programmes in the digital space. I am very grateful to the World Bank, Ubele Nig. Ltd and New Cloud for the opportunity.”
Project Leader of Ubelle Neo Cloud Technologies Consortium, Dr. Ali Onoja, explained that the 460 beneficiaries were selected from the more than 900 applicants.
He said the training focused on inclusivity and holistic preparation for entry-level job opportunities for the youths, adding that with the certifications from renowned bodies, the next step is nurturing the beneficiaries into self-employed individuals and entrepreneurs.
He explained that the Ubelle Nig. Ltd and Neo Cloud Technologies Consortium were among the 14 private sector organisations selected as grantees of the Innovation Grant Funding, IGF, under the IDEAS project.
According to him, the aim was to equip eligible youths, especially women, the disabled, and the vulnerable, with digital skills and certification.
“However, learning alone is not enough. To turn their skills into successful ventures, they need resources, support, and opportunities, and this is where Fabsi Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd comes in.
“We understand that starting or expanding a business requires more than just knowledge; it requires capital, mentorship, and a network of like-minded individuals,” he said.
On his part, the Chairman of the event, Dr. Ogwu Onoja, applauded the achievements of the graduates, emphasizing the relevance of their digital skills in today’s fast-paced world. He encouraged the young generation to utilize their knowledge to make positive impact.
While commending the efforts of Ubelle Nigeria Limited, Neo Cloud Technologies, and the World Bank for fostering digital leadership, Onoja urged the graduates to continue learning and evolving, reminding them that the world is full of opportunities waiting to be seized.
Also, IGF Consultant, Ndem Ndiyo, National Project Implementation Unit, Federal Ministry of Education, said that the IDEAS project was an ambitious and transformative initiative designed to enhance the quality and relevance of skills development in Nigeria.
Ndiyo described the project as one of the successful Public Private Partnership in the education sector in Nigeria, designed to leverage resources in the private sector for digital training.
He added that the beneficiaries would be certified in line with the National Skills Qualification Framework, to become employable, self-employed and employers of labour.
“They will go through an internship programme where they will be engaged by the digital industry to put their skills to use after which we will look at job placement for them. This in the long run will enable them to impact the nation’s digital economy,” he said.
