The Nigerian government has inaugurated National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Training and Research Academy, a Virtual Learning Academy for Nigerians.
The virtual event, which held on the Microsoft Teams Platform, is streamlined to meet the requirements of all categories of trainees.
“We have leveraged on existing technologies, in line with our mandate, to provide the requisite training needed to put Nigeria on a globally competitive pedestal in spite of the pandemic to ensure that Nigerians are ready for a post-COVID-19 digital era.The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, in his keynote address encouraged Civil Servants, students and all Nigerians nationwide, to key into the opportunity to acquire and develop digital skills as the current lockdown affords us time to seek, explore and improve on digital literacy.
“This is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive, to empower citizens with Digital Skills in the race to digitalize the nation’s economy,” the Minister said.
Dr. Pantami commended the NITDA for co-ordinating the National Academy for Research and Training:
“This is a very important initiative where our citizens will enroll in courses and ensure they build their capacity.
“I also commend our partners in this laudable initiative, particularly in the areas of emerging Technologies, Block Chains, Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Big Data Analytics and many more.
“…This move, amid the global health crisis COVID-19, ensures that Nigeria and Nigerians are abreast of latest skills in emerging technologies” Dr. Pantami said.
The Director-General, NITDA, Mr Kachifu Inuwa, said the project launch is a contribution to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
“In line with its capacity building programmes, NITDA Nigeria conceived the idea of setting up an academy that will serve as the foremost Centre of Excellence for Research & Devt. (R&D) in emerging technologies in ICT and related entrepreneurial skills.”
“This virtual learning platform was conceptualized and executed during this lockdown with the help of our partners: Cisco, Huawei, Microsoft and Oracle; they played a key role in making this initiative a reality.
“…The Minister had directed us at NITDA and other agencies under his supervision to key into the initiative on digital literacy and digital job creation and how to empower our citizens and prepare them for digital world and post COVID-19 world,” Inuwa explained.
One of the high points of the event was the live demonstration of the registration process for courses and programmes by Director, Information Technology Infrastructure, NITDA, Dr. Usman Abdullahi, which are tailored to meet the industry standard required to produce competent trainees who can fit into and be relevant in the I.T sector.
The project is being executed by the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and NITDA in collaboration with Microsoft, Huawei Technologies, Oracle and Cisco.
It will be recalled that the NITDA Training and Research Academy project, was initiated and conceptualized by the Minister during his tenure as the Director-General of the Agency.
The virtual event was attended by over 200 participants.
To access kindly log on to: academy.nitda.gov.ng.