IBADAN – No fewer than 60 youths in Ibadan North East/South East federal constituency of Oyo State have been trained on Information and Computer Technology (ICT), with a view to making them self-sufficient and create wealth.
The training, which was facilitated by the lawmaker representing the constituency and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Narcotic Drugs, Rep. Abass Adigun (Agboworin), is aimed at making them more skillful in information technology towards improving their socio-economic growth and provide employment opportunities.
The programme was held at the Local Government House, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
Speaking at the event during his remark, Agboworin emphasized the importance of ICT in fighting poverty and promoting economic growth.
According to Agboworin, the empowerment programme is aimed at bridging the digital divide and equipping youths with the necessary skills to compete in the modern digital economy.
He noted that the development would provide a lot of economic opportunities for them, especially in the area of employment opportunities and establishment of their various businesses.
He said, “The unequal provision of opportunities to access and contribute to information, knowledge and to benefit from the development enhancing capabilities of ICT is referred as the digital divide.
“It is in effort to bridge this divide that I am organizing this ICT empowerment Programme for Youths in this constituency.
“I am fully aware that ICT gives unprecedented opportunities to effectively fight against poverty. That is one of the reasons I organized this ICT empowerment programme for my constituents.”
Agboworin encouraged the beneficiaries to utilize their newfound skills to contribute to the country’s development.
“There is a need for majority of youths in Ibadan North-East/Ibadan South-East Federal Constituency, regardless of their background, to be empowered in ICT, which is one of my top priorities.
“Therefore, I urge the beneficiaries today to take advantage of the potentials inherent in ICT to be able to solve numerous challenges and contribute to Nigeria’s development.”
He assured that those who are yet to benefit would be included in the consequent phases of the ICT programme.
The youths, at the end of the training, were equipped with laptops and are to get the sum of N50,000.