EXPERTS UNDERSCORE ICT SKILLS AS ANTIDOTE FOR SOCIETAL MENACE

   Skill acquisition, especially in Information Communication Technology (ICT), has been identified as one of the solutions for curbing societal menace among the youths.

    Special Adviser to Ogun State Government on ICT, Mr. Dayo Abiodun, stated this during an orientation programme for interested participants of Cyber Security Training, organised by Ogun Skills Fund, in conjunction with World Bank and facilitated by Bureau of Information Technology (BIT), at Ogun Techhub, Kobape, Abeokuta.

    Represented by Director Standard Regulations, Planning and Research, Mrs. Olatundun Adekunte, the Special Adviser emphasised roles of ICT in providing engagement opportunities for youths across the state, to reposition them as best tools for national development, assuring that the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun was committed to eradicating societal menace through youth empowerment.

    Mr. Abiodun recalled that Ogun Skills Fund was established in collaboration with World Bank, in 2022, to reduce joblessness among youths by engaging them in vocational, literacy, entrepreneurial, especially ICT training programmes, adding that BIT would engage participants in Cyber Security Training, among others.

   He disclosed that the training would be free of charge for three months in a conducive environment, while first class instructors and issuance of globally recognised certification would earn them automatic employment from government or private organisations through internship, charging the trainees not to take the programme with levity.

  Also speaking, Senior Programme Officer, Ogun Skills Fund (OSF), Mr. Olalekan Ogungbe, reiterated that the state government had invested huge amount of money and efforts for the initiative, towards improving the economic status of the youths.

   He hinted that the National Skills Qualifications (NSQ) Certification was first of its kind and globally recognised, calling on the participants to embrace the rare opportunity, to justify government’s investment in the training.

    One of the trainees, Mr. Timilehin Okewunmi from Abeokuta South Local Government Area of the state, who spoke on behalf of others, thanked the state government for the advantage and promised to make the state proud in all areas of life.

 

Olayinka Ezema,

Press Officer, BIT