9Mobile, the fourth largest telecom operator in Nigeria has launched a digital skills training initiative at the Bichi Emirate Council in Kano State, Nigeria.
The launch is part of activities to mark the coronation of the Nasir Ado Bayero as the second Emir of Bichi. Until his coronation, Ado Bayero was the board chairman of 9Mobile.
The launch also coincides with the graduation of the pilot class of the 9Mobile sponsored digital skills entrepreneurship program for youths.
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According to 9Mobile, the digital skills initiative will empower Nigerian youths, especially in digital skills acquisition.
“On behalf of the Bichi Emirate Council and the good people of Bichi, I wish to specially express my profound gratitude to the board and management of 9mobile for the support shown to our people. We, therefore, hope to receive many more of this kind of gesture in the future,” the Emir Ado Bayero said.
Umar Danbatt, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), who attended the launch said the programme was in line with key policy documents developed by the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, including the Nigeria National Broadband Plan 2020-2025, the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy 2010-2030, and the National Policy on Promotion of Indigenous Content in the Nigerian telecommunications sector (NPPIC), to promote a digital economy.
Juergen Peschel, acting Chief Executive Officer of 9Mobile said the 9mobile Bichi Emirate Digital Skills programme is one of the company’s strategic efforts to contribute to the human and capital development of Nigeria by providing digital skill acquisition opportunities for youths in line with the Government’s agenda on digital transformation.
“In a country endowed like Nigeria with two-thirds of its population within the youth bracket, the question has always been about how to empower young people with relevant and sustainable skills and create the enabling environment for them to channel their energies and innovation into productive enterprises that can be harnessed for national development. This is what informs all our ground-breaking youth-centered initiatives,” Peschel said.
The governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje also commended the initiative saying that it ties into his administration’s efforts to empower and create meaningful employment for the youths. While assuring of his administration’s willingness to collaborate with the telco on other initiatives that will benefit the good people of Kano State, he enjoined the graduands to put the skills they have acquired to good use to impact the lives of their families, communities, and the state in general.
