CHUKA UBAH
The Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has urged Nigerian youths to properly equip themselves with skills that would make them competitive in a world that is fast becoming a global village.
According to the Speaker, Nigeria can not afford to be left behind and the youth must take up the challenge for self-empowerment and nation development.
Gbajabiamila spoke in Suleja, Niger State on Friday during an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) capacity building and tools presentation programme organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
The two-week programme was facilitated by a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abubakar Lado.
The Speaker while presenting the ICT tools to the beneficiaries, said the importance of ICT cannot be overemphasized because a knowledge-based economy is what is currently and will continue to drive the world.
He said: “ICT is the oil of the future. We are already in a knowledge-based economy and when you talk of knowledge, the first thing is ICT.
“There’s no better empowerment than to train the people, give them the tools and the skills that they will need for them to build the future for themselves”.
The Speaker, who was accompanied by Hon. Babajimi Benson (Lagos), commended Hon. Lado for his foresight, “This is because he realises the importance of training the youth. With this, he is training the youth for the future.
“I urge you (beneficiaries) to put this knowledge and tools to good use for your progress, expansion of your businesses and national development,” he advised.
Earlier, Hon. Lado, who represents Gurara/Suleja/Tafa Federal constituency, said the training workshop was not only in fulfilment of his election promises but the need to make his constituents self-reliant.
NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa said the training was conceived to bridge digital gaps in the country.
He also said for the past three years the agency has been vigorous about its roadmap of regulation, capacity building, promotion of local contents, promotion of government digital services for job creation, digital inclusion (intensify investment etc) and cybersecurity.