As part of efforts in fulfilling its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), American Tower Corporation operating under the aegis of ATC Nigeria Wireless Infrastructure Limited, has commissioned a multi-million information and communication technology (ICT) resource centre to equip community youths of Akai Efa in Calabar Municipal local government area of Cross River State, with skills in ICT.
Commissioning the project on behalf of the wireless infrastructure providers at the weekend at Akai Efa community in Calabar, the member representing Calabar Municipality/Odukpani federal constituency, Bassey Akiba, asked the community youths to guard the facility jealously against destruction by vandals.
The lawmaker, who lauded the firm for the initiative, stressed that arrangements were in top gear to sponsor 100 students of tertiary institutions to acquire skills in various aspects of information and communication technology at the facility in seven days time.
“By the grace of God, our people will be coming here to learn and know how to access the entire world.
“And for us, we are coming here on September 8, 2024. On that day known as Literacy Day, with about 100 students from tertiary institutions to train them, and equip them with skills in various areas of ICT.
“We are going to launch an App for our people to come here and apply, the first hundred students in the tertiary institutions will be supported by us.
“I want them to come here, open the website and apply. Apply for jobs everywhere.
“On behalf of our royal fathers, village heads, the leadership and entire people of Akai Efa community, on behalf of ATC Nigeria Wireless Communication Services, I want to, on behalf of everyone today August 31, 2024, commission and open this centre for you,” the member of House of Representatives declared.
Representative of ATC Nigeria, who facilitated the ICT project at Akai Efa community, Mr.Harry Okoro, averred that 24 youths will be trained at a time, stressing that even though the firm operates across 20 states of Nigeria, its operation is limited to communities where peace thrives.
“Most of the things that we are going to teach during the training session are things that are taught in schools,” he said.
For her part, the traditional ruler and village head, Akai Efa community, Her Royal Highness (HRH), Henrietta Efa-Akpera, who attracted the project to her domain, solicited support of her subjects for sustainability and protection of the facility against attacks by vandals.
