By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
The Managing Director, North East Development Commission (NEDC), Alhaji Mihammed Goni Alkali said the Commission has resolved to established 18 ICT Resource Centers across the 6 states of the north east region.
Alhaji Alkali said the center would explore the impact of modern technology and ICT on the teeming unemployed youths in the region.
He stated this on Thursday during the the presentation of certificates and starter packs to the beneficiaries of Batch C NEDC ICT Training Programme n Maiduguri.
He added that the centers would be graduating not less than 10,000 students as entrepreneurs every year
The Managing Director further appreciated the board members and National Assembly committee members and the Borno State Government for their support to the NEDC, which are all geared towards the safety, livelihood and stability of the people who have been displaced by the insurgency.
He noted that “earlier last year, Batch A and B of the ICT Resource Training Programme graduation were held in Biu town, the location of the Borno South Senatorial District center while the batch C is taking place at the Borno State Mass Literacy Agency NEDC ICT Resource Training Center for the Borno Central Beneficiaries while Federal Polytechnic Monguno accommodates the Borno North Senatorial District NEDC ICT Resource Training Center with temporary office located at Ramatu Polytechnic Maiduguri .
The MD further revealed that 2000 students are to graduate from the centers this year 2022 and after the three months training programme, certificates, starter packs and take off grant of N25, 000 would be given to each graduating students.
He however, called on the state government to provide the graduating students with space to start up their businesses as entrepreneurs.
On her part, The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Nasiru Sani Gwarzo, thanked God for giving him the opportunity to see all what the NEDC has been doing on first hand information.
The minister commended the NEDC for its interventions in the establishment of ICT Resource Training Center across the north east states.
She disclosed also that the state government has approached the commission to intervene in the newly established state owned varsity, were NEDC has received approval for the construction of The Faculty of Engineering.
While calling on stakeholders to ensure the sustainability of the programme, the.minister advised the students to be attentive and put their ICT knowledge that they acquired into good use.
Other highlights of the event was the handing over of office equipments to Borno Geographic Information Systems (BOGIS) as well as the commissioning of two newly established ICT Resource Training Centers for Borno North and Borno Central Senatorial Districts at the Borno State Mass Literacy Agency premises in Maiduguri.
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