An Open Letter To President Muhammadu Buhari By ICT FOR CHANGE TRAINEES NATIONWIDE.


Dear Mr. President,

The Federal Government of Nigeria, in her mandate to provide Empowerment for the Nigerian unemployed youths, through a sponsored program by HUAWEI Company Tagged "ICT FOR CHANGE" which was aimed at reducing the unemployment rate in the nation. Out of over 53,000 unemployed youths who applied, 2000 were selected from across the federation and were expected to go through this training and be fully empowered, but to our greatest amazement the shortlisted unemployed youths who have no means of livelihood were expected to cater for their transportations and accommodations for the numbers of days scheduled for the training.

The "ICT FOR CHANGE" program was proposed by the Federal Government of Nigeria in partnership with Huawei Technologies for Universities/Polytechnics Graduates of Electrical, Electronics, Computer Science, ICT, Civil & Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Mathematics and other ICT related courses held in Huawei Training Centers in Abuja & Lagos between November 2016 to July 2017.

We beneficiaries obliged, with the hope of empowerment after the training, so in a way of contributing to our progress and applauding the efforts of the said stakeholders, some of us who were shortlisted borrowed money for our accommodations and transportations for the said training, holding onto the integrity of the Federal Government and Huawei company in fulfilling their promise of empowerment which was the sole aim of the training but to our amazement, a cheque of 1billion naira (resulting to #500, 000 per each person for 2000 youths) was presented to the government by Huawei company representative for this empowerment training but we weren't given an android phone talk more of a laptop to enhance our training.

We know that this present government is committed to the fight against corruption and the misuse of public funds, therefore will not spend N1,000,000,000 support from Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd and an undisclosed sum from the government without empowering its citizens.

We demand for our full empowerment in a way of employment into the Federal Civil Service, deployed to various ministries where we can put our knowledge to use, empowered to startup an ICT business and employ other youths and not being left on the same spot as before the training. Any country that must develop in all areas and aspects of her economy must put the ICT in its forefront; not people empowered for ICT without being given a computer system or a platform that will facilitate their learning and putting their various acquired knowledge to practice.

Come to think of it, is this how Nigerian Government will bridge the digital divide? By giving a course that is meant for five years in five days? We call on the Government to rise up to her obligation and give us our empowerment as due, except if the whole empowerment termed "ICT4CHANGE" is a deceit on their part to the youths who risked their lives for this training and indeed the whole nation. Please work it out and Give us our Empowerment as promised as soon as possible. Thanks.