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The Nigerian federal government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with global tech giant, Microsoft Corporation, to train five million citizens on high-demand technological skills that are needed to advance their respective careers.
The deal was signed this week in Dubai, UAE inside GITEX GLOBAL, the world’s largest startup and tech event that started October 10 and ends tomorrow October 14.
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While signing the agreement on behalf of Nigeria,the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, commended Microsoft for the offer. He said that the process and the implementation of the MOU would commence in earnest.
“We are highly delighted with this offer of corporate social responsibility by the Microsoft Corporation. Though some of our agencies provide capacity building programmes for teeming citizens, this new offer by Microsoft will go a long in achieving our dream of Digital Nigeria,” said Pantami.
Adding: “We value action once agreements are signed, we will ensure immediate commencement of the implementation. We will continue to provide enabling environment and ensure that our regulatory instruments are developmental and flexible for Microsoft and other businesses to flourish,”
Microsoft representative, Mr Deen Yusuf, said: “Microsoft is willing to collaborate with Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy and jointly drive skill and employment initiatives in Nigeria by potentially building the capabilities and capacities of government organisations and enabling them to provide economic opportunities for the youth.”
Some of the components of MOU includ training of one million job seekers in most relevant digital skills for the job of today; 1700 Master trainers would be upskilled and 200,000 for certification as learners.
“At least 7000 jobs would be created through the initiative,” said Yusuf.
As part of African Transformational Skill Portal of the MOU, two million Nigerians would benefit from free digital skills that would enhance the way they do business, create job opportunities and increase productivity.
Also, within the Gebeya job portal, 200,000 Nigerians would have an opportunity to create profiles and get placed in jobs at Microsoft partners and customers.
At least 1000 learners will be engaged and skilled in data and artificial intelligence in 30 Days of data platform programme,
About 1000 developers will be skilled under the low Code October programme through a Microsoft led skilling initiatives. Another 100 youth will be upskilled in data and intelligence workloads in 30 days of Microsoft Graph programme. Over 5500 developers would also learn how to leverage Microsoft’s Power Apps to build technology solutions under Global power Platform Bootcamp.
Students are not left out of the deal as 290 of them would gain technology skills in Microsoft technology stack that would increase their chances of employability in 30 days learning of student programme,
The MoU also states that 5000 Nigerians will participate in Azure Nigeria Community Conference.
The collaboration also includes the training of 1700 Master Trainers on basic and intermediate digital skills while 27,000 youth would be connected to improved livelihood opportunities.
