Minister of communications, Adebayo Shittu, says President Muhammadu Buhari has lofty plans to massively engage and create jobs opportunities through information and communication technology for teeming population of job seekers in no distant future.
The minister spoke about genuine commitment on the development of ICT in the country in Ile Ife, Osun State, at the second edition of Ife Youths Economic Summit, where 200 youths were trained on Computer Programming, Mobile App Development (Android Apps & iOS Apps), Desktop Application, Game Development, Website Design, among others, stressing that ICT remains a key to secured future.
The minister, who was represented by Olufemi Olufeko, explained that the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration placed importance on youth development and planned massive job creation using ICT, adding: “This government is not paying lip service to the development of ICT in the country.
“ICT provides jobs, connect people to jobs using internet-based and mobile tools, provides larger reach, provides awareness for products and services to more global end users, thereby using more coverage and commercial activities and massive job creation.
“ICT empowers workers by making labour markets more transparent and inclusive by making sure low-income and marginalised communities also have opportunity to be part of the market. ICT also supports innovation; this creates new, more flexible form of employment and work.”
Also, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), challenged youths in the country to display innovative ideas capable of improving nation’s economy, just as he urged them to take the training seriously, saying the ICT has emerged a relevant tool for daily transaction and engagement.
“The western worlds is aware of your (Nigerian youths) ingenuity and capacity of your brain and you must show your uniqueness. We have a lot of Nigeria youth with beautiful brain but are not celebrated, frivolities have taken over. We now praise fame over brain (intellect). Youths in the country should be motivated by the greatness of their future always,” he added.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Science and Technology, Ajayi Boroffice, advised youths in the country to be committed and dedicated to make a change in the country’s technological sector.
He said, “Having known the impact ICT can make on our economy it is imperative we take the bull by the horn. The first step in our development drive will be ICT skills development in Nigeria. ICT holds a lot of potential for economic growth and Nigeria being the ‘giant’ of Africa needs to wake up and take the initiative of empowering her youths for the challenges ahead.
“More investment has to be made in the ICT sector, subsidies have to introduced to reduce the exorbitant cost of acquisition of ICT education in our country today; a state of emergency should be declared in the ICT sector of the economy and incentives provided to encourage more youths to pursue careers in the ICT industry. We should stop paying lip service to ICT development.”
During the summit with the themed, ‘ICT as a formidable tool for Nigeria’s economic rejuvenation and massive job creation’, the Ooni Annual South-West Final-Year Students Business Idea Competition and Osun State chapter of Young Entrepreneurs were launched.
BOLA BAMIGBOLA, Osogbo
