BY NAJIB SANI, GOMBE
The Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) and Bright Information Technology Academy, Azare have graduated not less than 50 youth trained on Information Communication Technology (ICT).
Our correspondent reports that the graduands underwent four months training under the Technical Skills Development Project (TSDP) jointly anchored by the three institutions.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony held at Bright Information Technology Academy, Azare in Katagum local government area of Bauchi State, the managing director of the academy Ahmad Shehu Hassan explained that the ITF-NECA Technical Skills Development Project, ‘is a groundbreaking public-private partnership’ aimed at addressing Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges by offering specialised training to bridge the gap in technically skilled manpower.
He said the collaboration has played a pivotal role in addressing youth unemployment in the country since its initiation.
“The intensive four-month ICT training has equipped you with expertise in graphics design, digital photography, mobile application development, web design and development, and video editing and production. In this era, skills have become the currency of the 21st century, holding the potential to drive economic growth.”, he pointed out.
Ahmad expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for sponsoring initiatives like the TSDP, praising the programme’s success in significantly reducing youth unemployment rates.
He encouraged collaboration for many such programmes in the future and urged the graduands to leverage their skills as instruments of progress.
Mr Shamsuddeen Muhammad, representing ITF and NECA, congratulated the graduates adding that the project’s goal is to replace job-seeking with valuable skills required by both government and industry.
He encouraged the trainees to explore business opportunities and potential contracts for economic independence.
