The Federal Government of Nigeria, in partnership with WEMA bank, are set to establish tech hubs in seven states to empower 1 million youths and 500,000 MSMEs.
In accordance with the commitment made by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to create more opportunities for young Nigerians to work in the digital sector; the Nigerian federal government, acting through the Office of the Vice President, is getting ready to launch digital hubs that will equip one million young people all over the country with the necessary digital and related skills.
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About the centres
The centres, which will be known as the FGN/ALAT Digital and Skills iNnovation Hub, will initially open their doors in the states of Lagos and Borno.
Afterwards, the centres will open in the states of Katsina, Cross River, Anambra, Oyo, and Kano. They will be operated in conjunction with WEMA Bank, which is regarded as one of the most reputable financial institutions in Nigeria.
Following a recent meeting in Abuja, officials of the bank and Vice President Sen. Kashim Shettima were able to come to an agreement on the project. This meeting resulted in the arrangement for the initiative.
To empower young entrepreneurs in Nigeria by supplying them with individualized financial products, training, and assistance in order to enable them to develop sustainable enterprises that will contribute to the expansion of Nigeria’s economy is one of the primary strategic goals of the programme.
Other goals include empowering young workers to become an integral part of the workforce in Nigeria, particularly those who have been deployed through the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), as well as supporting tech-savvy young people who have a keen interest in digital innovations and aspire to drive technological advancements. This will be accomplished by providing these individuals with financial solutions, training, and access to strategic partnerships.
The FGN/ALAT Digital and Skills iNnovation Hub is aimed at tech-savvy young people and young business owners in Nigeria. Its primary purpose is to serve as a centralized platform that provides possibilities for networking, mentoring, and the acquisition of cutting-edge digital skills.
It is particularly important to get one million young people employed in the digital economy and to upskill SMEs who can directly add value to the economy of the country. The emphasis is being placed on the promotion of entrepreneurship, the development of skills, and the integration of young employees into the workforce.
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Getting into the number of beneficiaries
Using a specialized curriculum developed specifically for the FGN/ALAT Digital and Skills iNnovation Hub, one million young adults will receive training in software engineering, product management, business analysis, cloud computing, and product design. This training will take place in the classroom.
Mentors will provide guidance to 500,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Nigeria as part of the mentorship programme, and coaches will train and upskill the mentees to prepare them for business growth and quantum leaps.
The plan will provide grants to small and medium-sized businesses and technology startups out of the N500 million that has been put aside for distribution by WEMA Bank as part of a cooperative agreement with the Federal Government.