It said the promotion of digital skills would overcome underemployment, and restlessness among youths, and help actualise the current goal of 90 per cent digital literacy among Nigerians by 2030.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, Abiodun Essiet, gave the assurance at the official launch of RespecTech, a human resource initiative designed to equip Nigerian graduates with essential tech skills, connect them with international job opportunities, and bridge the gap between tech talents and employers held in Abuja.
According to her, the Tinubu-led government has laid down programmes to empower the citizenry, reduce our poverty level, and promote development.
The presidential aide said that through collaboration, Nigeria can improve its foreign earnings by connecting home-grown tech talents with possible jobs with companies across the globe.
She said, “The government is doing a whole lot in providing digital skills so that our youths can be gainfully employed and also investing more in empowerment programmes at different levels. You see SMEDAN doing so much, empowering people with digital skills and afterwards giving them computers and other needed things that they can use to thrive after empowering them.
“You have different other programmes from other ministries that have been laid out by the government to empower people, reduce our poverty level, and promote development in this country. We have several programmes with different ministries that have been channeled towards addressing the rate of unemployment in the country.”
She added that with the demand for tech talent globally, Nigerians must position themselves by learning the right skills to compete with global innovators.
Earlier, in his address, the Country Director, Social Good, Oyewole Joledo, stated that the initiative aims to bridge the gap between talents and gainful employment through a partnership with renowned companies and individuals to maximise the benefits of technology for the Nigerian youth.
With the growing number of Nigerian youths, Oyewole expressed concern that many of them are unemployed and lack the skills for employment to be competitive in the international market.
He said, “Technology is transforming industries daily. It is a powerful solution to some of the world’s most significant challenges. However, the key driving force behind any technological advancement is skilled talent. With a strong pool of tech experts, innovators and critical thinkers. We can truly build the digital future Nigeria truly deserves.
“Nigeria has a massive youth population, an abundant intellectual capacity capital. Yet many of our great minds need access to opportunities that enable them to prosper. Global tech companies are facing acute skill shortages and hunger for talent and there is a mismatch and disconnect here that needs to be bridged. To empower Nigerian youth and catalyse technological innovation, we are announcing the launch of the respected initiative.
The country director added, “Through this initiative, three basic goals will be achieved. One, achieve a true reduction in unemployment. Second, to increase in the near future, the internally generated revenue through payment of tax on foreign earnings and encourage Nigerians to launch more innovative tech startups creating special economic zones with incentives to attract foreign investors seeking tech talent and ideas.”
The PUNCH reports that the event, themed “Empowering Nigerian Youths for a Tech-driven Future”, featured a panel session with representatives from the National Youth Service Corps, National Directorate of Employment, Industrial Training Fund, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund amongst other tech companies proffer solutions to untapped opportunities and foreign engagements for Nigerian talents.
