During the closing ceremony, the students shared their knowledge on Mobile applications and website development, hardware repairs and networking as well as their plans towards transforming knowledge acquired to a huge and sustainable enterprise.
As part of the activity marking the completion of the first batch of the training, the students displayed their work in a manner that portrayed innovation, creativity and strong ingenuity. While given testimony, some of the trainees confirmed that they have learnt so much that, they can through mobile applications proffer solutions to some local issues. On the other hand, the students who learnt hardware repairs and networking expressed delight that the skills are capable of earning them moderate means of livelihood.
Onyedikachi Stephen, a trainee of programming and software development commended the initiative and said “I believe we will make new sets of IT gurus, and amongst us are new Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg. I have learnt so much that I am developing software that will improve access to Medical care and services”. Similarly, a female trainee who learnt hardware repairs expressed delight and said “Now I can diagnose and fix the problem”, she continued by stressing that the much she has learnt she can compete favourably in the hardware repairs market.
While congratulating the students, Olusegun Fatigun of FCTA, encouraged the graduating trainees to be of good conduct and be determined in maximizing knowledge acquired from the training. He reaffirmed the Minister’s commitment towards collaborating with UNESCO for a similar initiative. UNESCO Abuja office through its National Officer, Communication and Information, Olushola Macaulay assured the students that UNESCO will remain committed to the holistic empowerment of youths, thereby positioning them as a veritable instrument for peace. He also assured the graduating trainees that a hub would soon be opened, for continuous practice and engagement. He reiterated the UNESCO efforts, in working with the relevant authorities to attract investors and soft loan opportunities for the graduating trainees.
The second batch of the training has commenced on 8 September and is expected to run until November 2017. Upon which the initiative would have produced 200 young people with competencies in mobile application development and entrepreneurship skills.
For more information, contact: Macaulay, Olushola (o.macaulay@unesco.org) Follow us on #youthmobilenaija or Twitter @unesco_abuja @youthmobile_
