As part of its strategy to equip its citizens with relevant skills, the Enugu State government has successfully trained 114 indigent girls, women, and boys in Information Communication Technology (ICT).
The training took place at the newly established State Tech Hub and Youth Innovation Centre in Obollo Afor, Udenu Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking during the graduation of the beneficiaries, the General Manager of the Obollo Afor Tech Hub and Youth Innovation Centre, Dr. Emmanuel Uba Nwani, disclosed that one of the cardinal aims of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s administration in establishing the centre was to empower the girl-child by exposing them to the digital world through knowledge of computer applications and other digital intricacies, to enable them to earn a living and be self-reliant in future.
Nwani, who noted that the five-week training was conducted free of charge at the cost of the state government in collaboration with Tech 4 Development, explained that the pupils and women were exposed to graphic design, software development, web designing and solar energy installation, among others. The GM, who presented certificate of participation to the beneficiaries, urged other pupils in the area to develop interest and avail themselves of the opportunity.
“This is to host and train mostly the girl-child; not only the girl-child, but the vulnerable women and boys in the society who do not have access to modern telecommunication infrastructure. We train them in ICT programmes such as digital technology and digital literacy to expose them to the technology world. They were taught how to work with computer system; they were shown computer parts; they were trained on how to open some of the applications like Microsoft window; they were shown how to create email addresses; they were also trained on how to browse the internet.
“We know that presently Nigeria is working towards Computer Based Test (CBT) for all grades and the people concerned especially the people in the hinterland must be acquainted; must be knowledgeable on how to use computer system”, he said.
Also speaking, one of the facilitators, Brown Ini expressed gratitude to Gov. Ugwuanyi for establishing the programme, stressing that it will go a long way towards empowering the girl-child in ICT. Some of the children who benefited from the training thanked Gov. Ugwuanyi for the noble achievement and promised to utilize the gains in their daily activities.
