From Henry Ibya, Makurdi
Benue State government has disclosed that it would generate no fewer than 50,000 jobs at the end of its digital and ICT training programme for youths.
Lead Consultant of the training, Jeffrey Udende disclosed this after the commencement of the training of 10,000 youths in Makurdi.
Udende, who said the six months training was undertaken by the state government to equip youths with technical skills, commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for giving youths the opportunity to develop themselves.
He added that what government had done was not just training the youths, but ensuring that those who have successfully completed the training are given jobs.
“We are training 10,000 youths physically and online. We created the online classroom because of those who applied and went for national service. The good thing about the training is that the jobs are hanging. This is the first government in Nigeria that is giving youths intensive digital ICT training.
“In fact, the participants are doing very well and we are looking at exporting the talents before the end of the training period because all of them that are getting on well will get jobs,” he told journalists
He said Governor Alia deserves all the commendation for giving Benue youths the opportunity to develop themselves in order to become useful to themselves and the society, as well as generate over 50,000 jobs.
Speaking on behalf of the trainees, John Elor expressed appreciation to the state government for the opportunity to improve their livelihood, noting that cyber security, one of the courses they studied, is in global demand with several opportunities, describing the training as a life changing opportunity.
He expressed optimism that the training would help the beneficiaries to start developing local content, as well as launch Benue youths into the global economy.
