The North East Development Commission’s (NEDC) managing director, Muhammad Alkali, has emphasized the commission’s efforts to train teenagers in the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in order to develop capacity and generate digital jobs.
Alkali made the announcement at a press conference in Abuja yesterday when he stated that the commission would rehabilitate youngsters and revitalize the economy of the NorthEast area, which was previously devastated by the Boko Haram insurgency.
“These days, our kids are interested in ICT. When you visit any of the states, the first thing you see is youth lined up here and there, which might be a ticking time bomb. As a result, we devised a strategy to involve those who were unable to return to school.’’
‘‘We looked at some of the young people whose schooling had been disrupted by the loss of so many years and determined that we needed to give them something they could do. “And we thought that as a commission, providing them with vocational training in something they are interested in would be appropriate.”
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‘‘Today, we have 18 ICT training centers in the north east, one in each senate district, and we train 400 individuals on average per year.” Alkali said. He stated that following training, the kids would be handed kits and given the authority to put what they had learnt into practice.’’
“We took simple models, one of which is for those who can repair handsets, and another is for graphics design, where people can sit down and do invitation cards and other things.” “The models have worked, and today we have many young people who have started their own businesses, training others and creating more jobs.” We also provide training in DSTV installation, metering, and other areas. “This is so that people who are unable to attend formal schools or vocational training centers will have something better to do, reducing the number of jobless youths,” he explained.
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NEDC to Strengthen the Region for food production
The NEDC Boss noted that through a demand-driven policy, the commission also focuses on utilizing the potential of the region for stability and development in agriculture, trade, commerce and industry.
He praised President Muhammadu Buhari for establishing the commission and stressed that the infrastructure and social intervention programme of the commission is demand-driven and places priority on rebuilding the massive agriculture belt of the region for food security.
He said further the NEDC Master Plan is comprehensive because its mandate captured other important sectors such as health, Science Technology and innovation, tourism and sports, which will ensure that people are psychologically at peace.
He added that the commission has come to complement the efforts of the governments of the six states of the region (Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe) as well as work with development partners, both local and international to source for external funding for the enormous activities of the commission.