NAN-H-101
ICT
By Vezi Isike
Lagos, May 12, 2017 (NAN) A Non-Governmental Organisation, Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN) on Friday said empowering youths with ICT skills would help in combating poverty and securing a better future for the Nigerian child.
Mrs Simi Nwogugu, Executive Director of JAN, made the observation at the finale of a 3-day STEM Innovation camp in Lagos, organised to tutor youths on leadership and critical innovation skills.
She told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that giving youths access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) at an early age would boost economic productivity.
Nwogugu said it would also create tech savvy entrepreneurs who would change the tide of business.
“Empowering a child to be proficient in ICT has propensity to aid him with what it takes to break the cycle of poverty and unleash potentials in creating change for themselves.
“Youths need support networks that can help them communicate, draw inspiration and gather resources to take positive action as they come across challenges.
“This camp will help facilitate the emergence of a global community and network of young people who will apply the knowledge gotten into other activities of their life,” she said.
Mr Femi Bamidele, Principal Tutor International School Lagos, applauded the organisers of the camp and encouraged youths to take hold of ICT as a means of fortifying their future.
“JAN is God-sent to these kids because they have in conjunction with Oracle made it easy for children to go online and learn all of what is needful to become ICT savvy,” Bamidele said.
He said that the project should be encouraged because consistency would go a long way in creating more entrepreneurs that have good understanding of ICT.
Adeleke Fuhad, an 18-year-old student from Akande Dahunsi Memorial School, said the training had expanded her scope and aided her decision on career path.
“I did not know ICT is as deep as it is and I have decided to become an IT expert, because by so doing, I won’t worry about jobs when I finish school.
“Nigeria needs so much of experts in ICT because if we truly had experts, we would have an active data base of how people carry on their activities.
“That would have helped to even know the number and real names of the Chibok girls, of which some are yet to be found,” she said.
NAN reports that JAN is part of Junior Achievement Worldwide (JAWW), a nonprofit economic organisation with a network within 121 countries.
JAN, in collaboration with Oracle Academy Nigeria, hosted the 3-day STEM Innovation camp for 50 students of 10 schools from the ages of 15 to 18.
The camp lasted from May 10 to May 12. (NAN)
VOI/ENN/SOA
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Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Oluwole Sogunle