NITDA Launches Computer Literacy Programme In Jigawa State

Computer literacy in Nigeria has been further taken to another level following the global acceptance and, nigerians, not wanting to be left behind, have embraced information and computer technology to upgrade and become self-sufficient.

And to ensure that the sector is given the right support, government had established the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA which has the mandate to supervise, promote, build capacity and monitor activities of the ICT institutions and various gencies of government across the country.

In furtherance of its capacity building mandate, NITDA, has launched a computer literacy training program to capture the northwestern region of the country. 

A statement from the Office of the Head of Corporate Affairs and External Relations of the Agency disclosed that, "the month long training targeted at women in the region, is an initiative of the current leadership of the Agency aimed at supporting the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of President Muhammadu Buhari".

Jigawa state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Badru, whose state is host to the NITDA Capacity Building Training Programme for women in the Northwest region, while addressing the participants and guests at the event which held at the Manpower Development Institue in Dutse, the state capital, remarked that the Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami led administration at NITDA, has made unprecedented strides with its ICT intervention projects in the state and the region in general. 

The Governor disclosed that the Agency, has committed over four hundred million naira in the state in ICT developmental programmes. 

“Jigawa state is particularly grateful to the current Director General of NITDA, for his relentless commitment to the development of ICT in the state and indeed, the country in general". 

"This is the first time a training of this nature , specifically aimed at empowering women, is taking place in the state”, the Jigawa state Chief Executive stated. 

He pledged his administration’s unrelenting support to the Agency, promising that the investment will be closely monitored to ensure it yields the desired fruits".

Speaking also, Barrister Hassan Ibrahim, Deputy Governor, expressed his gratitude to the Agency even as he reiterated that the commitment demonstrated by NITDA, and the prompt response to hitherto digitally marginalized areas in the country, is proof of Dr. Pantami’s exemplary leadership.

Chief Executive Officer/Director General of NITDA, in his remarks, urged the participants to take full advantage of the opportunity to acquire the requisite skills needed to empower themselves intellectually and financially. 

He stated that, "the decision to empower women with ICT skills, was borne out of a genuine need to bridge the digital divide that exists between genders". 

“When you educate a woman, you educate a nation and, the world of technology is moving at a pace so fast, that it will be detrimental  to us as a nation, if we overlook the immense potential inherent in women”, he said. 

Pantami emphasized that women, the world over, were recording feats in the area of ICT and Nigerian women must be empowred, encouraged and supported to take their pride of place globally.

Some of the participants who  spoke at the event, expressed their gratitude and immense joy at the knowledge and experience the exposure has given them. 

Aisha Umar Ahmad, a participant from Sokoto state, confessed that prior to the commencement of the programme, she was a stark computer illiterate as she had no idea about the capabilities of the “electronic box” but so far, she has become proficient in the use of basic computer applications such as Microsoft office.

The on going training programme which started two weeks ago, has participants drawn from the eight states in the North western region namely, Jigawa, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto, Yobe and Katsina  states. 

It will be recalled that the intervention was initially aimed at one hundred trainees but the number has been increased to accommodate one hundred and eleven women as a matter of necessity.

All participants at the training programme were presented with Laptops donated by NITDA at the ceremony.