Lagos To Empower 2000 On Ict Applications, Include Website Design

The next time this happens, make una take advantage o!

http://odili.net/news/source/2008/dec/8/412.html
By Stanley Opara

In a bid to encourage youths to be self-reliant and information and communications technology compliant, the Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Science and Technology, is set to empower 2,000 young people.

The ministry disclosed this on Friday.

The Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, according to the statement, stated that the 2,000 people would be empowered via an ICT-based hands-on workshop on Personal Computer assembling/software installation and website design.

He said the training for the two courses would run concurrently for two weeks starting from December 15.

Hamzat identified the youths as constituting a major part of the increasing population of the state, which is currently about 18 million based on the 2006 census.

He added that a large number of the youths were school leavers with little prospects of securing employment or gaining admission into higher institutions of learning.

He said the Governor Babatunde Fashola administration took up the initiative to assist the youths in the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas as part of the government's youth empowerment programme.

 The commissioner explained that at the end of the courses, the youths would each be given reference materials/web software for web design and PCs kits as well as onetime take-off grants.

He explained that the rationale behind the onetime take-off grant was to assist the grandaunts to start off in their chosen fields.

Hamzat said, "The funds are meant to be used in making business cards, flyers and to advertise their new skills to potential clients. The Lagos State Government is aware that some will spend the grants unwisely, but it is committed to assist the youth as the effort is geared towards the numbers that will have their lives changed by this initiative."