Maida applauds Project to train 3M Nigerians on ICT skills
By Patience Ikpeme
Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has commended the plan of the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, to enroll and train 3 million Nigerians over a four-year period, making the country an exporter of digital skills.
Maida, who spoke recently in Lagos at the City Business News Summit, said the programme, which has already attracted 1 million applicants, has the potential to increase Nigeria’s pool of technically skilled people in the global market, leading to potential employers of digital and technical skills on the international scene to begin engaging more Nigerians.
Speaking on the theme of the summit, “Repositioning the Nigerian Economy through Telecommunications: 2023 and Beyond,” the NCC boss noted that in recognition of the rapid pace of technological advancement disrupting industries around the world, Nigeria’s vision is rooted in the belief that embracing this disruption and fostering innovation will propel the nation towards sustainable growth, economic diversification, and improved living standards for all Nigerians.
Represented by the Commission’s Director of Research and Development, Ismail Adedigba, the NCC’s chief executive officer said: “The vision is, therefore, to accelerate the growth of Nigeria as a global technical talent hub and a net exporter of talent; to deepen and accelerate our position in global research in key technology areas and increase the complexity and dynamics of our economy by significantly increasing the level of digital literacy across Nigeria. In this regard, the Honorable Minister is looking to create a pipeline of 3 million technical talents.
“This programme, which has already started with over 1 million applications from potential trainees, is expected to increase the level of digital and technical skills among Nigerians, especially young and middle-level talents, to 70% by the end of 2027. This will position Nigerians to contribute productively to the economy and place us in the top 25th percentile of research globally in the key areas of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), IoT, Robotics, Blockchain, and Additive Manufacturing, in keeping with the strategic plan unveiled by the Honorable Minister,” he said.
Maida said the Ministry’s policy direction, driven by five pillars, will deliver on the goals of fostering economic growth and development. These pillars, which include policy, infrastructure, innovation, entrepreneurship and capital, trade, and knowledge, are the bedrock of the Strategic Vision Plan (2023-2025) and provide the guidance to channel our efforts to harness the potential of the telecommunications sector and drive positive change in Nigeria.
He said the Commission remains committed to providing an enabling environment for the building of the critical infrastructure required to power a strong digital economy, guarantee improved access to quality broadband connectivity, and the efficient management of the nation’s spectrum resources.
“As we work with our supervising Ministry – Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy – to take these steps to provide the enabling environment for repositioning the Nigerian Economy through telecommunications in 2023 and beyond, we call on Nigerians – and especially our compatriots in the media – to tap into the aspects of these interventions that are relevant to them. The ambitious plans we have set out may seem lofty and even incredible, but through strategic partnerships and collaborations with all stakeholders, we believe they are achievable,” the EVC said.
The NCC is committed to working with the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to implement the ambitious plans outlined in the Strategic Vision Plan (2023-2025) and to position Nigeria as a leader in the digital economy.
