The Minister of Youth Development Dr Jamila Bio-Ibrahim, has disclosed the readiness of her Ministry to partner with the American Tower Corporation (ATC) Nigeria to provide free training on information and communications technology for Nigerian youths.
The Minister made this disclosure when some representatives of the oganisanisation led by the Public Affairs Manager for Africa, Mr. Ehize Ilozavbie paid her a courtesy visit in her office in Abuja.
The Minister said, “The ministry’s major mandate is to create an enabling environment for the youth to thrive and to prepare them for the 21st century economy just as President Bola Tinubu has emphasised severally in most of his engagements.”
The Minister expressed the preparedness of the ministry to collaborate with the ATC so as to provide greater opportunities for the youths to benefit from the services of the organisation. She said, “We are ready to partner with you in the area of information communication technology, which is the main area of partnership with your corporation that our youths can benefit from.”
Leader of the delegation and public affairs manager for Africa, Mr. Ehize Ilozavbie informed the minister that the ATC is committed to strengthening the telecommunication industry in Nigeria.
Mr. Ilozavbie stated that his organisation has its presence in thirty – three states in the country.
He added that their skill acquisition centres are designed to up-skill community members free of charge. He revealed that the organisation has over eight thousand telecom towers across Nigeria. He further said that about ninety eight percent of their sites have renewable energy.
The public affairs manager maintained that about fifty thousand Nigerians have been trained at these centres across the federation at no cost to the trainees.
He also informed the Minister of another component of their programmes known as the Girls in ICT which is focused on training girls from secondary schools on ICT adding that some of the graduates from their training centres have gained employment abroad as a result of the knowledge they acquired.
Maryam Umar Yusuf
Head Press and Public Relations Unit.
