Sports Minister Charges Nigerian Youths To Be Digitally Compliant

The Minister of Youths and Culture, Mr. Sunday Dare has called on Nigerian youths to take advantage of available opportunities to raise their skills in digital technology in order to compete favourably with their counterparts globally.

The Minister gave the charge on Friday at the closing ceremony of the Economic Sustainability Plan In Green Stimulus And Digital Youth Nigeria Programme held at the SWAN Secretariat, National Stadium, Lagos.

Mr. Dare told the youths who successfully completed the programme that digital knowledge is the key to the future and added that without digital knowledge the nation’s youths will find it difficult to hold down jobs or thrive in entrepreneurship roles.

“Our country needs digital knowledge to thrive. So you need some level of digital training to be an entrepreneur and successfully run your own business,” he said

He said the initiative from the Ministry of Youths and Sports is to help coordinate and implement the youths empowerment programmes which is geared towards self employability and entrepreneurial development among youths.

He also noted that the programme encompasses digital skill, work experience, digital solutions in agriculture and renewal energy among others.

“The programme also focused on skills such as Internet Of Things (IOT), software skills and others.

“The successful completion of this programme is an expression of the priority and focus of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to lift 100 million people out of poverty.

“We have done many initiatives in the last two years. And I want to say that through the Nigeria Youths Investment Funds, you can apply for funds to kick start your businesses.

The Minister informed the audience that thousands of Nigerian youths have taken advantage of many programmes under the auspices of the Federal Government to improve their business fortunes.

“About Six Thousand youths have benefited from some of our programme and are now thriving in their different business.

“I want to congratulate all the successful trainees here today for taking part in the training that has lasted several weeks.

“We intent to increase the number in future editions and expand the field of study and sustain the model in our ministry.

“Our greatest resource in the next twenty years will be our youths. i therefore urge you to take up the challenge of self development. You have the potentials, talent and energy to step up and make sure you get the desired skills.

“In total this administration will manage about Forty youths developments programmes and some of these programmes are already ongoing.

“I thank all those who have contributed to the development of the programme as I declare the programme close and again congratulate the participants.,” he said.

Hope Adebiyi, one of the successful participants in the training programme said the programme exceeded his expectation while Gloria Okeke said the programme has opened her eyes to many new skills that will propel her to achieve a lot in life.