3MTT: Kogi Edges to become TechPreneurs’ Hub in Nigeria –Omachoko,
* Trains 1636 kogi youths
ATABOR JULIUS
The Community Manager of 3 Million Transformative Talents 3MTT, Arome Omachoko has assured that kogi state would soon become the digital technology smart entrepreneurs’ hub in the country.
The community manager,gave the assurance at 3MTT HackAthon 2.0 summit held on Saturday in Lokoja.
The 3MTT is the initiative of the federal government through Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency NITDA to create 3 million employments for the Nigerian Youths by 2025 through acquisition of digital skills.
Omachoko noted that kogi youths wasted no time to seize the initiative and enrolled into 12 categories of the scheme and are now revolutionising the digital ecosystem in the state .
He added that so far, about 60,000 Nigerian youths in the HackAthon2.0 have been certified in different digital ecosystem and making impact in creating and generating wealths.
According to him, the federal Government decided to launch the scheme to reduce the alarming unemployment situation in the country, disclosing that the digital space is capable of migrating huge youth population to prosperity even as the sizeable numbers have begun to making impacts in their chosen skills.
He disclosed that in the Hack Athon1.0, over 1,636 kogi youths have been trained and are making waves creating opportunities even as over 5,000 ambitious youths have been placed on jobs , making Kogi a technology entrepreneurs’ hub in the country.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Ododo for the opportunity granted the youths to own their destinies and contribute to the transformation of kogi state and Nigeria in general.
In her contribution, the commissioner for innovation, science and Technology, Dr Helen Adeniyi Aderibigbe, said when youths are functionally engaged, the economy benefits as they will be miles away from crimes and other social vices,.
She noted that 3MTT initiative of the present administration is to mop up youths from the unemployment streets and creating a lasting impact of generating wealth for the nation.
She averred that the role of digital technology in human advancement cannot be overemphasized, as it is capable of helping to solve complex life situations.
According to her, during COVID 19, works were done from homes, reducing human contact, thereby eliminated the prevalence of the pandemic.
The commissioner, however, stated that in as much as the ICT could guarantee opportunities, it can also be used to doctor realities and warned against using AI to alter images , voices , fake content, urging governments to energise strategies put in place to monitor and control cyber crimes.
While advising participants to deploy their skills legitimately and avoid anything that would make them vulnerable to breach of the law, said , the skills acquired is a ticket to decent livelihood.
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In a remark, the Senior Special Assistant SSA to the Governor on Cybercrimes, Emmanuel Promise, decried the battered image of the Nation by the activities of some cyber criminals, also known as yahoo, yahoo, saying , the ICT world possess limitless legitimate opportunities that one does not need to involve in unwholesome behaviours to succeed
He said the future of Nigeria lies in the digital technology as it is already contributing significantly to the GDP, urged the Government to prioritise the enabling environment and the needed infrastructures to enhance its rapid growth and development.
In a remark, professor Edgar Osaghea , of the department of Computer science, federal University,Lokoja, said , the nation can harness the potentials of the so called Yahoo boys to imbibe ethical hacking.
He explained that instead of using the skills for demeanour their skills could be utilised to guard and ward off criminals, through the application of ethical hacking , saying, when property is placed in the custody of a thief, the thief will not steal it.
He called for massive investment in education to meet the yearnings of the 21st century, insisting that Nigeria has the human resources to take ICT world by storm.
Highlights of the summit was the skill competition among the platform in which Waste Tracker emerged victorious.
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