*to graduate 10,000 ICT students
By; SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri
The Managing Director, North East Development Commission (NEDC), Alhaji Mohammed Goni Alkali has on Thursday, disclosed that as part of the commission’s mandate in the post insurgency rebuilding process, 18 ICT Resource Centers have been approved by the board to be established across the six states of the North East region to explore and impart modern technology and ICT on the youth, especially the unemployed.
He added that the 18 centers would be graduating not less 10,000 students as entrepreneurs every year while in each of the 6 states if the north east, the commission will establish an ICT Resource Training Center in each of the three senatorial zoned of the six states, making it three centers in each of the states, totalling 18.
Alkali disclosed this on Thursday at the presentation of certificates and starter packs to the beneficiaries of Batch C NEDC ICT Training Programme, handing over of office equipment to Borno Geographic Information Systems (BOGIS) as well as commissioning of two newly established ICT Resource Training Centers for Borno North and Borno Central Senatorial zones, held at the Borno State Mass Literacy Agency premises, Maiduguri.
The Managing Director further appreciated the board members and National Assembly committee members and the Borno State Government for their support, cooperation and partnership with the NEDC which are all geared towards the safety, livelihood and stability of the people who have been displaced by the insurgency with some, traumatized and jobless or helpless
He noted that last year, Batch A and B of the ICT Resource Training Programme graduation was held in Biu town, the location of the Borno South Senatorial District center, while the Batch C is taking place at the Borno State Mass Literacy Agency NEDC ICT Resource Training Center for the Borno Central beneficiaries, while Federal Polytechnic Monguno accommodates the Borno North Senatorial District NEDC ICT Resource Training Center with temporary office located at Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri.
The MD revealed further that 2,000 students are expected to graduate from the centers this year and after the three months training programme, apart from certificates, starter packs and take off grants of N25,000, each graduating student will be gifted a canopy.
He however, called in the state government as a matter of urgency, to provide the graduating students with space to start up their businesses as entrepreneurs while appreciating Professor Babagana Umara Zulum for donating N1 million to a young lady, Miss Faima who sells caps to the public through the internet, revealing that the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Nasiru Sani Gwarzo has been patronizing her caps for over a year.
According to him, the commission is expected to intervene in Here LGA on road network that will link six towns and villages within the LGA, which the NEDC board has assented to, while the commission is committed to also award a housing construction contract for the academic and administrative staff of the newly established Federal Polytechnic Monguno.
He said the commission has also received approval from the board for the renovation and upgrading of GGSS Monguno to a Mega School status, alongside those of GGSS Biu and Dikwa towns, while BOGIS was chosen for support due to the relevance and role involving land matters disputes management and administration that affect the society and revenue base of both the local and state government.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Nasiru Sani Gwarzo at the presentation of certificates and handing over of office equipments to BOGIS, thanked God for giving him the opportunity to see all what the NEDC has been doing.
He added that the interventions to BOGIS were targeted at addressing land use matters.
The Minister while commending NEDC for its interventions, appreciated the institutionalization of the NEDC ICT Resource Training Center being implemented across the North East
He disclosed also that the state government has approached the commission to intervene in the newly established state owned varsity, where NEDC has received approval for the construction of Faculty of Engineering, while praying for sustainability of the programme.
He advised the students to be attentive and put their ICT knowledge acquired into positive use.
