Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is fully committed to the effective and efficient implementation of Federal Government’s policy direction in repositioning the youth for the digital era job opportunities.
NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, stated that the policy direction is through a programme tagged, Digital Job Creation for Youths (DJCY).
This is in line with one of the pillars of the National Digital Economic Policy and Strategy, (NDEPS 2020-2030) namely, to further accelerate economic growth in digital literacy and skills.
Danbatta, in a statement he personally signed, disclosed that over 2,000 Nigerian youths from the six geopolitical zones have, so far, benefited from the programme.
He added that other 600 youths are being trained in the ongoing edition of the programme.
The DJCY programme is designed to enhance the skills of youths across all the six geopolitical zones of the country, Danbatta stated.
This is through customised training and offer of fully-loaded laptop computers with networking devices, to equip them for the purposes of engaging in different digital entrepreneurship businesses that they may chose.
The beneficiaries are provided with free accommodation facilities for two weeks.
During the period resource persons in digital skills, business development and management are engaged to retool the beneficiaries with their laptops to re-orientate them towards self-discovery, self-development, and self-employment.
“Some of the objectives of the DJCY include to remould youths with other skills with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) proficiency to fit into the digital economy.
“They are as well as strengthened with technical and scientific competences among the youths with a view to creating opportunities for self-employment.
“It is also designed to improve access to ICT-enabled services such as banking, and strengthen the ICT micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector of the economy.
“The DJCY relies on the provisions of NDEPS 2020-2030, which encourage the promotion of Digital Literacy and Skills.
“[This is] through massive training of Nigerians from all walks of life in order to enable them to obtain digital literacy and other digital skills.
“Hundreds of the participants in the previous two editions have reported gainful self-employments, using the laptops and Internet connectivity tools provided by the Commission,” he added.
The NCC EVC also said the Commission has received the commendations of the Federal Government for the way and manner it had efficiently and effectively designed and implemented the programme for the benefit of the Nigerian youths.
He said the Commission got commendations from the government through the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Ali Ibrahim Pantami.
“The Commission restates its full commitment to this programme as a result of the positive feedbacks from the previous editions.
“[This is also as a result of] the potentials it has in enhancing the digital opportunities of the Nigerian youth for the benefit of the nation’s digital economy,” Danbatta added.
NCC is the independent regulatory authority for the telecommunication sector in the country, as contained in the Nigerian Communication Act (NCA), 2003.
The Commission is responsible for creating an enabling environment for competition among operators in the industry.
It also had the duty to ensure the provision of qualitative and efficient telecommunications throughout the country.
