The Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA) on Thursday, graduated 234 barracks youths who are undergraduates in different universities, from its Youth Development Project in Information Technology (InfoTech).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that NAOWA had on Oct. 4 inaugurated a six-week intensive training in Infotech to cushion the effect of the eight-month strike by universities lecturers.
President of NAOWA and Wife of the Chief of Army Staff, Mrs Salamatu Yahaya, said the youth project was initiated to positively engage youths in the barracks.
Yahaya said the project was conceived to commit the youths to learn Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Entrepreneurial Skills to enhance their academic pursuit and productivity in various spheres of life.
She said the youth project was mainly for students of public universities who were at home due to the industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
According to her, the initial plan was to train 400 youths, but more than the number turned up during the registration.
“Their plea and NAOWA consideration for the betterment of all youths in the barracks led to the expansion of the programme to accommodate Secondary School Certificate Holders who are yet to gain admission into higher institutions of learning.
“Currently, over 800 students from various barracks within the FCT have registered for the NAOWA Youth Development Project.
“The first stream of trainees that are graduating today are the undergraduate trainees affected by the strike action carried out by ASUU.
“The training commenced with 236 trainees, out of which 234 successfully completed the training and would be graduating today.
“It is heartwarming that the project is yielding positive results as these trainees would be going back to their respective schools with added knowledge that would have significant impact in their educational pursuit and career development.
“The NAOWA Youth Development Project comprises of an Intensive Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurial Training as well as other forms of youth empowerment programmes.
“The ICT training was conducted by the Unites CISCO Networking Academy, who are amongst the best hands and also recognized globally in the field of Information and Communication Technology,” she said.
The NAOWA president explained that the ICT training for the first stream covered areas such as IT Essentials, Get Connected, Introduction to Cyber Security, Python, and Web Design.
She said the graduating trainees had also been registered on the Cisco Networking Academy Website, which would give them access to Cisco advance learning networks and entitle them to discounted rates in all advance computer trainings with the academy.
NAN reports that NAOWA presented brand new laptop computers to the best three graduating trainees in each course, and some trainees who conducted themselves well.
This gesture, according to Mrs Yahaya, is aimed at encouraging them to be more hardworking and encourage others to take the opportunity seriously.
She said the NAOWA Institute of Management and Technology (NIMTA) building had been renovated and equipped with desktop and laptop computers, as well as internet facilities, among other equipment.
According to her, each of the participant was trained at a fee, provided with writing materials and a weekly stipends of N5,000 to cater for logistic and personal needs.
“It is important to note that the renovation of the NIMTA facility, the provision of equipment, funding of the training and provision of the weekly stipends to the trainees, were all sponsored by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, who has always placed premium on the welfare of personnel and their families,” she added.
The President, Defence and Police Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA), Mrs Vickie Irabor, commended NAOWA for investing in ICT access and quality education for the youths, adding that NAOWA had contributed to reducing youth restiveness in the country.
Irabor said the skills acquired would enable the trainees to gain employment with some startup businesses, saying that ICT had been adopted loosely by Sub Saharan Africa, through television and mobile network usage since the 1960s.
She congratulated the trainees for gaining useful knowledge to enable them contribute to business and multi-sectoral projects.
Irabor advised them to utilise the knowledge and skills with the utmost regard for upholding morality in practice, adding that much knowledge always comes with the responsibility.
According to her, the world today is faced with cyber crime and terrorism, hence, they should not utilise their knowledge negatively.
“There is much gain in hard work and dedication and I know that with God’s help you will all do exceedingly well.
“I encourage you to build on the knowledge you have received here with specialisations in ICT related programs.
“And also encourage you to take on internships and work opportunities that further build on these skills,” she said.
A former NAOWA President, Mrs Hadiza Dambazau, also applauded NAOWA for continuously impacting positively on the lives of the spouses and wards of Nigerian army personnel, and less privileged members of the society.
Dambazau said the event was another testimony to the foresight of NAOWA towards educating and equipping barracks youths for a better future.
She said the programme would no doubt empower and assist the beneficiaries in becoming self reliant.
“We live in a knowledge age that is driven by information and communication technology, which have permeated all facets of our lives and continue to shape how we live.
“I therefore, consider those graduating today as very lucky to have acquired highly demanded skills and I urge you to take the advantage of the skills by putting them to good use.
“I am confident that the ICT training you have received will increase employment opportunities and reduce crime in Nigeria,” she added.
The best graduating trainee, male category, Mr Dahiru Bello, thanked NOAWA for the opportunity given to them to become IT professionals as undergraduates.
Bello, who is a 300 Level Mechanical Engineering Student at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, said he intended to specialise in Cybersecurity with focus on systems forensic.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria