By Stanley Nwanosike
The Federal Government has trained 900 youths in Enugu on critical digital skill in emerging areas such as cybersecurity, data science, digital literacy and entrepreneurship.
The Director-General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr Kashifu Abdullahi, disclosed this in an address at the ongoing Enugu Tech Festival (ETF) 2026.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ETF 2026 (ETF 2.0), which has its theme as “Coal to Code: Energy in New Form,” was holding from Feb. 24 to Feb. 27.
Abdullahi said that the strategic skill training was part of the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to him, the training is tailored to cultivate talent and digital skill for youth empowerment.
The director-general, represented by Dr Aristotle Onumo, Director, Stakeholder Management and Partnership, said that out of the 900 trainees, 50 outstanding ones had demonstrated exceptional dedication, resilience and excellence.
“These 50 young innovators will not just receive digital tools; they will be receiving instruments of transformation.
‘’These tools represent opportunity; they represent empowerment; they represent the confidence that Nigeria believes in them.
“More importantly, they represent responsibility—the responsibility to build solutions, create value, and to transform communities.
“This is the new energy of Enugu, not coal, but code, not extraction, but innovation, not limitation, but possibility and this is only the beginning,” he said.
Abdullahi also said that NITDA would continue to create pathways for young Nigerians to build globally competitive solutions.
He further said that the government also provided platforms like Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition, the largest government-led tech event in Nigeria and GITEX Nigeria.
“These are some platforms innovators can showcase their ideas to global investors, attract funding, and expand beyond national borders. The message is clear: your innovation can go global.
“To the young people here today, who will be the recipient of these digital tools, I want you to understand something profound; you are not just learning skills, you are shaping the future,” he added.
In a goodwill message, the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr Aminu Maida, urged youths to take advantage of all digital trainings, conferences and inter-connectivity involving tech-innovation.
Maida lauded Gov. Peter Mbah’s vision of building Enugu State’s future advance on technology and Artificial Intelligence-driven infrastructure in security, education, administration, judiciary and health.
“You must keep supporting your governor, His Excellency, Dr Peter Mbah, for his vision and foresight into tech-innovation and encouraging youths to be passionate about digitalisation, tech-innovation and be problem solvers,” he said.
NAN reports that the high point of the event was Abdullahi’s presentation of brand-new laptops to 50 trainees that completed their digital training. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Esenvosa Izah/Bayo Sekoni
