The Nigerian government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the global technology giant, Microsoft Corporation, to train five million citizens in the high-demand technology skills needed to advance their careers. While signing the agreement on behalf of Nigeria on the sidelines of the ongoing GITEX 2022 in Dubai, UAE, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Issa Ali Pantami, praised Microsoft for this offer.
Professor Pantami said the process and implementation of the MoU will begin in earnest. “We are very pleased with this CSR offering from Microsoft Corporation. While some of our agencies offer capacity building programs for crowded citizens, this new offering from Microsoft will go a long way in making our dream of digital Nigeria come true. We value the business once the agreements are signed, and will ensure immediate start-up of implementation. We will continue to provide an enabling environment and ensure that our organizational tools are developed and resilient for Microsoft and other companies to thrive.”
Microsoft representative, Dean Yusuf, said in his remarks: “Microsoft is ready to collaborate with the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy and jointly push for skills and employment initiatives in Nigeria by potentially building the capacity and capabilities of government organizations and enabling them to provide economic services and opportunities for youth.”
Some of the components of the MoU included: Training of one million job seekers in the digital skills most relevant to the current job. 1,700 head coaches and 200,000 will be qualified for certification as learners. “At least 7,000 jobs will be created through the initiative.”
Meanwhile, it was gathered that as part of the African Transformational Skills Portal of the MOU, two million Nigerians will benefit from free digital skills that will enhance the way they do business, create jobs and increase productivity. As part of the Gebeya Careers Portal, 200,000 Nigerians will have the opportunity to create profiles and get jobs with Microsoft partners and customers. At least 1,000 learners and their skills in data and artificial intelligence will be engaged in 30 days of the Data Platform,
On the other hand, 1,000 developers, under the low code October programme, will be trained in low code, programming skills through Microsoft-led skill initiatives. Another 100 young people will be trained in data and intelligence workloads in 30 days of the Microsoft Graph program. More than 5,500 developers will also learn how to leverage Microsoft’s Power Apps to build technology solutions within the Global Power Platform Bootcamp.
Students are not excluded, because 290 of them will gain technical skills in Microsoft’s suite of technologies that will increase their chances of employment in 30 days of learning the Student Program. The MoU also states that 5,000 Nigerians will participate in the Azure Nigeria Community Conference. The collaboration also includes training 17,000 senior trainers in basic and intermediate digital skills while 27,000 young people will be connected to improved livelihood opportunities.
As much as the whole package is great, Nigerians are particular about the content of the MOU and hope that the Federal Government have not signed out their freedom.
