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The Benue State government has announced plans to begin training youths and women in digital skills acquisition. The training is part of the strategic plans of the Governor of Benue State, Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia to cushion the biting effect of the fuel subsidy removal that has affected young unemployed graduates and the female gender in the state.
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Code named ‘Benue Go-Digital, the Benue tech skills training will avail Benue youths with a platform to harness their potential. About 2000 youths are expected be trained in various digital skills.
Accordingly, the ICT training program is part of Governor Hyacinth Alia’s initiative to create employment opportunities for youths and reduce poverty in the state where the Benue State government will be collaborating with Troika Tech Digital Communications Ltd, Google, and Microsoft to conduct a comprehensive tech skill development.
A link for application was opened with a one-week window from 22-28 August 2023 for participants to register and within the one-week window, over 40,000 intending participants registered. The facilitating company has outlined a transparent process to trim the number and select those who will finally partake in the digital skills acquisition program.
Chief Facilitator of the program, Jeffery Terhemba Udende said the training is designed to properly equip the participants with digital skills and international certifications ranging from digital marketing and e-commerce, advanced data analytics, data science and analysis, UI/UX (user interface/user experience) programming, frontend, and backend programming; infographic, and smart videography to mention but a few.
Speaking in Makurdi, he said “the governor is committed to delivering on the gains of democracy especially as it concerns the youth and women. As the entire world is headed towards a technology-driven economy, every Benue youth should be armed with digital skills for the challenge ahead.”
The training is targeting startups and will offer incentives to make participants productive and self-reliant while others will be given employment.
A brainchild of Governor Hyacinth Alia, the training is sponsored being by the Benue state government and puts no financial obligation on the trainees.
The online test and selection exercise will hold Monday, 4th September 2023, said Udende.
