Not less than 50 young school leavers have graduated from Course One of Edobits ICT Academy, a free one-year programme run by the Edo State government through EdoJobs in collaboration with Edobits, Butterfly Works, Poise, and Wearebits.
The students were trained on advanced graphic design skills and performed freelance job for clients in Benin City and environs while on training.
Speaking with journalists at the graduation ceremony, project lead, Ekobits and Edobits, Innih Ikhide, said the ceremony was for the course one of the programmes run by Edobits ICT Academy.
Ikhide said the Academy was set up this year by the state government through EdoJobs to train youths from less privileged communities and provide them with adequate knowledge of ICT to contribute to economic development.
He said course one lasted for eight weeks, as the students were equipped with the fundamentals of ICT, noting that the total duration of the course was 12 months.
According to Ikhide, “After course one, the students’ level of commitment will be reassessed because commitment is important. After the reassessment, the students will continue with course two, which will last for six months after which they will move to course three. At the end of the one-year programme, the students will get a diploma certificate.”
He said the students are guaranteed to get jobs after the training, while those who want to toe the entrepreneurial path will be provided with the necessary support.
Manager, Edobits, Omomoh Abraham, said Edobits would train the students to become professionals in graphics design and development.
“In one of his visits here, the Edo State governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, promised that he will employ every one of them. This is a great opportunity brought to Edo people. We started from the scratch and today they are professionals in graphics design,” Abraham said.
According to Abraham, the programme is for free, as the state government and its partners have paid for the course, adding, “the students did not pay; they only made themselves available and have shown commitment.”
“I am really happy to be part of the training, I am graduating today. I am happy my life has changed for the better,” one of the beneficiaries, who identified himself as Osas, said.
