The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Chief Uche Nnaji has said that Nigeria loses billions of Naira due to the lack of certification of skilled Artisans in the country.
Chief Nnaji said this when the Association of Computer Village Merchants led by her President, Prince Anthony Nwakeze paid him a courtesy visit today, in his office, in Abuja.
According to the Minister, the Ministry is working assiduously in collaboration with the Organised Private Sector in the Science and Technology Ecosystem to set up Information Communication Technology Hubs (ICT) in the six geo-political zones for capacity building and certification of skilled artisans in the country.
The Minister said that Presidential Executive Order No. 5 which promotes local content in the planning and execution of projects, promotion of Nigerian content in contracts, Science, Engineering and Technology and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda are revolutionary instruments set to transform the country’s economy and grow her gross domestic products (GDP).
Chief Nnaji commended the Association for training over 3000 talented youths as part of her efforts to equip them for certification so as to compete favourably with their foreign counterparts.
He further stated that the Ministry has signed a memorandum of understanding with the private sector, with its invaluable expertise and resources which will play a vital role in shaping the nation’s workforce towards addressing the country’s challenges and achieving the dream of Nigerians.
To this end, the Minister assured the Association of the Ministry’s readiness to collaborate with her in order to promote local content and empower Nigerian Professionals towards the creation of jobs and wealth in the country.
Speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. James Sule commended the Association for her contribution towards the socio-economic development of the country in the areas of job opportunities for our teaming youths and income generation.
Earlier, the President of the Association, Prince Anthony Nwakeze, said “Ikeja Computer Village, Lagos is the largest Information Communication Technology (ICT) Market in Africa with an annual turnover of two billion dollars as reported by Vanguard Newspaper of April 13th, 2013”.
He further said that Computer Village has so far provided employment for over five hundred thousand graduates, three hundred thousand artisans within the last twenty years, adding that the Association also provides skills acquisition for over two hundred thousand graduates every year in the areas of Software Development, entrepreneurial knowledge amongst others.
Prince Anthony Nwakeze emphasised that the essence of the visit is to collaborate with the Ministry in the area of building the capacity by training and re-training of Nigerian youths and professionals in specialise digital skills for research and development.
. TheWitness
