Bauchi State governor, Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has said digital literacy is no longer a privilege, but a fundamental right for every citizen.
The governor said one of the strategic periods of the digital transformation is to empower the youth and civil servants, and transform them into a global competitive workforce.
The governor spoke at the launch of the “State Cybernations Programme, the Digital Literacy and Skills Framework, and the Bauchi State Data Protection Policy” held at the Old Banquet Hall, Government House, Bauchi yesterday.
The governor stated that his administration is committed to transforming Bauchi into a digitally inclusive, economically vibrant, and innovation-driven state. “We aim to harness technology not just as a tool, but as a catalyst for economic diversification, human capital development, and social transformation,” the governor added.
He emphasised, “We acknowledge that Information Technology is today, and in the foreseeable future, the fastest growing industry and one with increasing capacity to absorb young people with skills.
Its advantage is such that everyone can undertake training and acquire skills, be certified and create a sustainable source of livelihood leveraging on its power.”
Under the Digital Literacy For All (DL4ALL) Bauchi Initiative, developed in partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the initiative will provide digital skills training to over 100,000 citizens by 2027, and advanced training to 2,000 youths in high-demand fields like software development, cloud computing, and data analytics, among others.
He added that DL4ALL will embed digital education in schools and workforce policies to create a digitally fluent population without leaving behind the vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.
On the Cyber Nations Initiative, he said 500 young talents will be trained in various cybersecurity roles through the next few years and have them placed in various organisations within the country and around the globe to get the required experience and ultimately set-up self-sustaining businesses of their own.
“Under the arrangement, the trainees will receive payments, mainly in foreign currency, during the period of their placement. This groundbreaking initiative is the first of its kind in Nigeria and the second on the African continent,” he added.
Cyber Nations Initiative is designed to equip young people with cutting-edge cybersecurity skills and certifications, protect communities, businesses, and institutions from emerging digital threats, and prepare the workforce for a secure and globally connected future.
The Bauchi State Data Protection Policy, developed with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), reinforces Governor Bala’s commitment to safeguarding digital rights and ensuring full compliance with the National Data Protection Act across all ministries, departments, and agencies.
Speaking earlier, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) with the Canadian partnering non-governmental organization (NGO), Protexxa, a cybersecurity company, Mr. Rick Huijbregts, noted that the partnership would not have come at a better time than now, when it is geared to unlock the potentials of the state population, especially the youth, and transform Bauchi into a cyber ecosystem where innovation, collaboration, and enterprises flourish.
“As at today, Bauchi the state population stands at about 7.5 million people, growing at a rate of about 3.3 percent annually. This is driven by a high fertility rate of six to two children per woman, and notable young leaders aged 17 years.
“Accordingly, this has created a dynamic digital period generation. Additionally the Punch newspaper reported in 2023 that around 3.3 million Bauchi residents were already online. At the current rate, the figure is projected to surpass 3.5 million by the end of this year, meaning nearly half of Bauchi people would soon be digitised”.
Mr. Rick explained that though this project is a national challenge under Governor Bala Mohammed’s leadership, young people in Bauchi are being empowered not only locally but to compete globally to earn foreign currency and attract more foreign direct investments into the state.
Also speaking a representative of the director-general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi in a message to the occasion, commended Governor Bala Mohammed and his team for taking this giant step towards ensuring that Bauchi State is not left behind in the ongoing global digital revolution.
Protexxa’s Country Representative, Abi Hafsat Abubakar, revealed the programme’s connection to over 3.5 million global cybersecurity jobs, urging Bauchi’s youths to embrace the opportunity as innovators, not passive participants.
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