NITDA to establish Digital Innovation Centre in Kano –Inuwa

*Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, discloses the proposed Digital Innovation Centre, in Kano, will serve as a one-stop hub to drive digital innovation in the Northern state

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In a bid to further drive digital innovation in the Northern state, Nigeria’s

National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has said it will soon establish a digital innovation centre in Kano State.

Digital skills training programme in session in Jigsaw State

ConsumerConnect learnt Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General of NITDA, stated this at the recent graduation ceremony of 50 students trained by ENGAUSA Tech Hub, in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

Inuwa said the proposed Digital Innovation Centre for Kano would serve as a one-stop hub to drive digital innovation in the state.

On the programme, all indigenes of Ringim in Jigawa State were trained in two categories.

Dimensions of digital skills training programme

Ten students were trained in smartphone repairs, covering both hardware and software, while 40 got trained in building installation skills.

These skills included electrical wiring, electrical fencing for security, CCTV installation for surveillance, solar power installation for alternative power, and satellite installation for entertainment.

They were each awarded tool kits and gadgets worth more than N100,000 as a graduating gift to kick-start their business.

Inuwa, who commended the Ringim Emirate and ‘’Mafitar Ringim’’, a youth-oriented community-run association with a drive to reduce youth unemployment, lauded ENGAUSA Tech Hub for providing training in a way that the students can easily understand the use of indigenous language.

In his remarks, Engr. Mustapha Habu Ringim, Founder of ENGAUSA Tech Hub, said the model of training adopted by his organisation had simplified learning complex skills for youths, even for those that hope had been lost on their learning abilities.

Engr. Ringim noted: “ENGAUSA Tech Hub has trained and incubated more than 4,000 students cutting across all the 19 Northern States and some Southern States.

‘’It also has students from neighboring countries such as Togo, Ghana, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Cameroon.

“All these would not have been possible without the support of DG NITDA’s contributions.”

He also disclosed that  “some ENGAUSA graduates are now employers of labour, some having 10, 20 employees. “There are other cases where organisations call to authenticate the certificates of potential job applicants because they believe in the quality.’’

The Founder as well called the attention of parents and guardians to teach their wards the proper way of using and exploring social media for opportunities.

Ringim applauded the two elders of the Emirate, IGP Hafiz Abubakar Ringim (Rtd), and Justice Tijjani Garba, who sponsored the 50 students for the digital training programme.

Speaking on the training for the young population, the Emir of Ringim, Alhaji Sayyidi Abubakar Mahmud, represented by Chiroman Ringim Usman Sayyidi Mahmud, after appreciating all those who supported the programme, expressed the pride that ENGAUSA was founded by an indigene of the community.

The Emir commended NITDA DG for always supporting the developmental drive of the emirate.