Kogi State on track Becoming Nigeria’s Digital Technology Hub – Omachoko Arome
ATABOR JULIUS LOKOJA
The Community of the 3 Million Technical Talents (3MTT) program, Arome
Omachoko, has assured that Kogi State is on track to becoming a hub for digital
technology and entrepreneurial innovation in Nigeria.
Omachoko made the statement during the Kogi State 3MTT Impact Summit and
Hackathon, held on Saturday December 14, 2024, in Lokoja.
The 3MTT initiative of the Federal Ministry of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy,
aimed at creating three million digital jobs for Nigerian youths by 2025 through
comprehensive digital skills training.
Highlighting the programme’s success, Omachoko noted that Kogi youths have
enthusiastically embraced the opportunity, enrolling in 12 digital skill categories and
contributing to the state’s burgeoning digital ecosystem.
He revealed that over 100,000
Nigerian youths have been trained across various fields, including Software
Development, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning.
“The federal government initiated this scheme to address the alarming unemployment
rate,” he said. “The digital economy has immense potential to propel Nigerian youths
into prosperity. Already, a significant number of participants are making meaningful
impacts in their chosen fields.”
Omachoko further disclosed that over 1,636 youths from Kogi State have completed the
training, with more than 100 of them already placed in jobs. He emphasized that this
progress positions Kogi as a leading technology entrepreneurship hub in the country.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Communication,
Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, for spearheading the transformative
initiative.
He also lauded Governor Usman Ododo for establishing the Kogi State
Information Technology Development Agency, which he described as a game-changer
for empowering youths and driving the state’s technological advancement.
In her remarks, Dr. Helen Adeniyi Aderibigbe, Commissioner for Innovation, Science,
and Technology, highlighted the economic benefits of youth engagement through digital
technology. “When youths are productively engaged, they steer clear of crime and
Dr. Aderibigbe praised the 3MTT program for its role in lifting youths from
unemployment and fostering wealth creation. However, she cautioned against the
misuse of technology, particularly in creating fake content and committing cybercrimes.
She urged governments to implement robust strategies for monitoring and controlling
cyber activities.
She also encouraged participants to use their newly acquired skills for legitimate
purposes, describing them as a “ticket to a decent livelihood.”
Professor Edgar Osaghea of the Federal University, Lokoja, called for innovative
approaches to address cybercrime. He suggested redirecting the technical expertise of
cybercriminals toward ethical hacking to protect digital systems and infrastructure.
“The skills of so-called ‘Yahoo boys’ can be repurposed for ethical hacking to combat
cyber threats,” he said. “When a thief guards the treasure, it remains safe.”
He emphasized the need for massive investment in education to equip Nigerians with
the skills required for the 21st-century digital economy, asserting that Nigeria has the
talent to dominate the global ICT landscape.
The summit concluded with a pitching competition among program beneficiaries. Team
Waste Tracker emerged victorious, winning ₦500,000 and other exciting prizes.
The event underscored the transformative impact of the 3MTT initiative in empowering
Nigerian youths and positioning Kogi State as a digital innovation leader.
