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Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has lauded Google for committing N1.2 billion grant to he help drive the federal government’s one million jobs initiative.
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“Nigeria is ready for business. The President that we have now wants to leave a legacy that Nigerians will be proud of many years after.
“Let’s think outside the box and create more job opportunities. We need to walk the talk. It is easy to pontificate but very difficult to bring all of the ideas to fruition. I want to assure you this administration is ready to partner with you,” Shettima told executives of the tech giant at the presidential villa Tuesday in Abuja.
“We have a unique opportunity to harness the potentials of our huge youth population to create millions of jobs in the digital sector.
“We have more English-speaking people than many countries in Africa and beyond. We missed the agricultural age, we missed the industrial age, and we are now in the knowledge-driven post-industrial age. We have the potential and a unique opportunity to fill the anticipated global talent deficit,” the vice president added even as he urged other tech players to emulate Google.
“Access Bank is doing a lot in terms of digital skills, training 1000 youths in digital skills to create employment opportunities. We are working with Wema Bank, the Bank of Industry and other partners on this project. We are willing to partner with Google; we will work closely with you for the good of our nation,” Shettima stressed.
According to the Director of Google West Africa, Mr Olumide Balogun, Google shares President Tinubu’s vision of creating one million digital jobs as underscored by its N1.2 billion grants to drive the initiative.
Through the programme, Google will provide digital skills to over 20,000 youths and women allowing them skill up and have improved work and career chances for better income and productivity in alligment with the productivity agenda of the government, noted an official statement Director of Information in the Office of the Vice President, Olusola Bello.
The grant will also support the startups ecosystem with fund and mentorship in a way that allows innovative tech entrepreneurs to thrive and create jobs for others.
Google Africa’s Director of Government Relations and Public Policy, Mr Charles Murito, said affirmed Google’s commitment to invest in digital infrastructure across Africa to help in the social and economic transformation of the continent.
The Google initiative, designed to digitally skill up 20,000 Nigerians is being facilitated through Google’s philanthropic arm: ‘Mind the Gap’ in partnership with Data Science Nigeria and the Creative Industry Initiative for Africa.
