The Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio-Ibrahim, has announced a partnership between the Federal Government and American Tower Corporation (ATC) Nigeria, an American real estate investment trust that owns, develops, and operates wireless and broadcast communications infrastructure in several countries, to offer free Information and Communications Technology (ICT) training for youths.
Bio-Ibrahim said this in Abuja on Friday when some representatives of the organization, led by the Public Affairs Manager for Africa, Mr Ehize Ilozavbie, paid her a courtesy visit.
The minister explained that the ministry is prepared to collaborate with ATC in providing greater opportunities for youths to benefit from the services of the organization.
She added that “the ministry’s major mandate is to create an enabling environment for youths to thrive and to prepare them for the 21st-century economy, just as President Bola Tinubu emphasized severally during his engagements.
“We are ready to partner with you in information communication technology, which is the main area of partnership that our youths can benefit from.”
On his part, Ilozavbie informed the minister that “ATC is committed to strengthening the telecommunications industry in Nigeria.
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“The organization has a presence in 33 states, with its skill acquisition centers designed to up-skill community members free of charge.”
According to him, the organization has more than 8000 telecom towers across the country.
He further said that about 98 percent of the organization’s sites have renewable energy.
Ilozavbie explained that no fewer than 50,000 Nigerians have been trained at the sites across the federation at no cost to the trainees.
He also informed the minister of another component of the organization’s programmes, “Girls in ICT, ” focusing on training girls from secondary schools in ICT.
He added that some of the graduates from the training sites have gained employment abroad due to the knowledge they acquired.
NAN
