ABUJA – The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has said that it had put in place plan to create 1.2 million jobs for youths through Information technology (ICT) and Internet services.
The Agency’s Director-General, Mr Peter Jack, stated this at the Nigerian Internet Governance Forum (NIGF) 2015 with the theme “Harnessing the Potential of Internet Governance for Sustainable Development in Nigeria.’’
Jack said the Agency was planning to create opportunities for young entrepreneurs to manage economic activities, including e-government services in their various communities.
“The opportunities will create 1.2 million jobs; if we consider 200,000 units across the country, it will be a total of 600,000 units.
“We plan to partner with the Bank of Industry, the Central Bank of Nigeria and we are working with a number of agencies in that regard.
“We will focus mainly on government officials; we are planning to implement e-government both in the federal, state and local government levels.’’
The Director-General said the Agency also planned to train Federal Government personnel’s across the country.
An ICT expert, Alhaji Nasiru Zarummai, said Internet technology was very important for the Nigerian youth to become better entrepreneurs for self reliance.
Zarummai explained that the Internet was important for youths because it was now the base to become entrepreneur.
He said entrepreneurs had created billions of dollar opportunities and it was not necessary for them to work for government.
The expert noted that Nigeria had a youth population of about 80 million out of which 64 million had been unemployed.
He explained that Internet business gave one self-sufficiency, self-reliance, less-bureaucratic in decision making and flexibility and freedom of choice.
He estimated that there were now two billion people connected to the Internet worldwide and the number kept growing by the day.
The Chairman of NIGF, Mrs Mary Nduma, said that the aim of the conference was to stimulate interest among the youth to key into Internet opportunities.
She said “we want to look at how the youth can build Internet government in Nigeria in their own parts.
“We are trying to encourage proper behaviour on the Internet. We want youths to see the positive side of the Internet and use it positively and to the growth of Nigeria.
“A lot of business opportunities are available for the youth if only they can put the Internet into good use.’’