In his bid to further equip and empower youths of Akwa Ibom State through digital skills, Governor Udom Emmanuel has reiterated his administration’s commitment to produce 5000 software engineers in five year, saying “ICT is influencing employment both as an industry that create jobs and as a tool that empowers workers to access new forms of works in new and more flexible ways.”
Represented by his Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr Nse Essien, Governor Emmanuel, who made this know during the mid-term review of the ongoing web development training programme at Ibom E-Library, Uyo, on Tuesday, expressed happiness that the programme was going on as planned in quality and participation.
According to the Governor, “If you could recall, we started Web Development training for Akwa lbom Youth precisely on the 1st of September, 2017. We have gone half way by today 24th October, 2017. November 16, 2017 will mark the end of the training earmarked to last for three months. After one month and 24 days of intensive training, I am happy to inform you all that the training started with 2,050 trainees and as at today, 100 trainees are still in the programme while 1,950 have been dropped. By the programme design, the remaining trainees will continue until the end of the program.”
He reassured participants to the programme, which is in partnership with Nigeria Booking Limited, of the state government’s commitment to offer the best 50 finalists automatic employment.
“Once upon a time, the rules of the game were simple. People worked in their offices to develop and sell products or services and then share the margin between price and cost. Going digital means playing by new rules, powered by networking, sharing and interconnectivity. This has radically changed the fundamentals of doing business. In today’s digital world, it is obvious that acquiring digital skills and gaining new qualifications is the key-to success. Whether you are a young upstart, looking forward to climbing the carrier ladder or a founder of a startup or a Senior Executive in a charge of a large team: failure to keep pace with the digital revolution could prove disastrous. The solution for unemployment in Nigeria is for job seekers to 90 digital by acquiring pre-requisite skills. You cannot be analog, yet you expect a job in a digital world. That is not possible. There is a huge digital skill gap in Nigeria waiting to be closed,” he stressed.
The Governor further said “I need not over emphasize the fact that we are living in a Digital World, were Science, Technology and Innovation are the main drivers. Definitely, Akwa Ibom State will not be left behind. We are in a Digital Era with Landmark revolution characterized by the use of technology which increases speed and breadth of knowledge turnover within the economy and society. In the present world, the ‘in thing’ is the use of electronic tools, systems, devices and resources that generates store or process data. These include the use or social media, online games and applications, multimedia, cloud computing, mobile devices etc. Many people are yet to realize just how rapid and profound the current digital revolution is breaking down old institutions and old ways of thinking.”
In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Hotel Booking Limited, Mr. Mark Essien, thanked the state Governor and said the initiative by the State Government was apt.
He charged the participants, saying “We have achieved the goals that we set out to achieve, what we set out to do in Akwa Ibom would not have been possible if we did not have the support of the state government. We started with over 2000 people and we are down with 100 people now. Our selection process was very fair and by merit. Of the 100 that have made it through, I can say are great software engineers. I can vouch for these ones with my name; that given the right job and right opportunity, can become the best in the country.”
Some of the participants, who spoke, including Keresifon Ekpo, Mercy Ikpe and Elishia Ubong, thanked the state government for the opportunity given them to learn new skill and compete with their contemporaries the world over
