By Muhyideen Jimoh
The Federal Government plans to distribute 400,000 digital devices to young Nigerians, students, artisans, entrepreneurs and vulnerable groups nationwide.
Dr Abiola Arogundade, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education (TVEE), disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja.
Arogundade said the initiative, implemented under the National Digital Skills and Technical Empowerment Programme (NDSTEP), is aimed at widening access to digital skills, vocational training and entrepreneurship opportunities across the country.
She spoke while presenting tablets to 70 digital media personnel at a stakeholders’ meeting with digital media managers.
She said the devices would help beneficiaries access opportunities, find customers and convert vocational training into sustainable livelihoods.
“A phone or laptop is a tool to find new customers and turn training into certification,” Arogundade said.
Arogundade said the Federal Government was taking digital devices and skills training to states to expand participation in digital and entrepreneurship economy.
She said millions of young Nigerians, artisans, trained professionals and small entrepreneurs possessed skills but lacked appropriate digital devices.
The presidential aide said the media had a critical role in ensuring government programmes reached communities and potential beneficiaries.
“The empowerment of media personnel is deliberate because you play a critical role in ensuring that government programmes reach communities,” she said.
Arogundade said her office would engage print and broadcast media practitioners to broaden coverage of its grassroots information campaign.
She urged digital media personnel to deploy their tablets productively by amplifying government programmes and connecting potential beneficiaries with available opportunities.
“We cannot keep empowering technical people and forget the media. You are the people helping us pass this message,” she said.
Arogundade also called for robust media coverage of the NPRGS Oyo State phase scheduled for Sept. 28 to Oct. 9.
She said the Oyo programme would provide vocational training in fashion design, artificial intelligence, graphics and makeup.
According to her, the programme is expected to expand across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones as part of the grassroots empowerment drive.
Arogundade said the initiative reflected the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding access to vocational skills, digital tools and entrepreneurship opportunities. (NAN)
Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo
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