Obaseki's tech revolution: EdoJobs, ATC target 1,296 Edo youths for digital skills training

Edo State Government in partnership with American Tower Cooperation (ATC), have concluded plans to train 1, 296 Edo youths on digital skills to drive innovation and wealth creation across the state.

The partnership is driven by the state's jobs creation and skills development platform, EdoJobs, an initiative of the Governor Godwin Obaseki's administration designed to deliver at least 200,000 jobs to Edo people and residents.

Speaking with journalists, Head of EdoJobs and the Special Assistant to the Governor on Skills Development and Job Creation, Mrs Ukinebo Dare, said "the training will be held for the 1, 296 youths in three designated ATC centres in Benin City, Ekpoma and Irrua.

"The 1, 296 youths will be empowered with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills required for improving their employability and prepare them for entrepreneurship."

The training, she explained, "will provide youths in the host communities with the chance to become self-employed as well as opportunities to develop skills in ICT."

Dare said that "In the areas where the ATC centres are located, we are working with community heads to shortlist candidates to be trained. On August 7, together with officials of ATC, we visited the Odionwere of Igbesanmwan Community to sensitise community leaders to nominate beneficiaries from the community."

"The next day, we carried out another sensitisation at Emando Community and at the Enogie's Palace at Irrua, where elders and the Enogie were properly sensitised on the benefits of the digital training," she added.

According to her, "The training will be spread across six months. Thirty (33) participants will be trained for three months in each of the three training centres. In Benin City and Ekpoma training centres, the training commences on August 13, while in Irrua, it will begin on August 20."