Sardauna Foundation, Start Up Arewa train 500 Kaduna youths on ICT
//ICT: Shola Ojo, Kaduna Nigeria//
Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation also known as Sardauna Foundation in conjunction with a nongovernmental organization, Start Up Arewa on Thursday commenced training of 500 youths on Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
In an interview, Founder, Start up Arewa, Malam Mohammed Jega stated this at the opening of the 3-day training for the youths drawn from across the northern states been held at Foundation’s office in Kaduna.
He said that the programme was aimed at raising consciousness of the youths to trigger revolution in the ICT sector.
According to Jega, the training became necessary because the northern part of the country had been left behind in information technology development.
“A lot had been happening and a lot of young people are talented but have lost direction due to lack of platform.
“They don’t have platforms to showcase what they have. So, this platform is here to unlock those potentials and bring them in to showcase what they have.’’
He said apart from the training, the beneficiaries would be mentored to set up their own businesses.
Jega further added that the resource persons were drawn from Mali, Ghana, Senegal and Germany to add value to the training.
In his welcome address, Managing Director, Sardauna Foundation, Alhaji Shettima Abba said that the programme was aimed at awakening youths in the north to explore the potentials in ICT.
He said the programme would empower the youths, enhance competitiveness, make the young ones employable and active employers of labour.
“We think this is very important for the north and its young ones take up the challenges in ICT to the next level.
“This programme we are having is going to give them opportunities to network with the people that are relevant globally.’’
Also, the President Young Innovators of Nigeria, Mr Andrew Abu said the region has the capacity to play in the global ICT community.
“The northern youths if given exposure, can be able to maximize the opportunity and we will stop importing consultant to build solutions.
“We are going to do it ourselves and we are going to champion that drive no matter how long it takes,’’ he said.
The Executive Director, BDHub, Abuja, Daniel Steeves said the programme would assist people to live their dreams.
Steeves urged the participants to utilise what they learn to drive their own businesses.