Start Innovation Hub has partnered with the Federal Government on a World Bank sponsored digital skills training in Akwa Ibom State in collaboration with GEORGID Consulting and Crestsage Limited
The free training which commenced with an orientation programme for over 2,000 applicants will train about 700 persons on Digital Marketing, Data Analytics and Cyber security.
The unique feature of the Federal Ministry of Education facilitated programme under the Innovation, Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) project in Akwa Ibom, is the inclusion of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in the training.
Chief Executive Officer of the training organisation, Start Innovation Hub, Mr Hanson Johnson said successful applicants will not only be trained but connected to jobs,
Speaking during the orientation exercise in Uyo, Johnson explained that the training which would comprise three months of hands-on experience and three months of internship, with special provisions to accommodate PWDs.
“During the programme, we will be training you on technical skills, soft skills and business development skills. Technical skills will give you access to the job, soft skills will keep you on the job, while business skills for those who want to start their own businesses will have what it takes to be able to start and grow businesses from Akwa Ibom State” he said.
A cross section of participants during the orientation exercise
While speaking, the Project Coordinator, Mr Ndifreke Patrick, charged the applicants to commit themselves to the programme and not waste the opportunity, while some of the training instructors who spoke gave a brief content summary of digital marketing, data analytics and cyber security.
Some of the orientation participants expressed delight at the opportunity and were eager to begin training. One of them, Rachael Attat, who registered for digital marketing said, “I am looking forward to it”.
Some of the PWDS promised to take the training seriously by attending classes, hoping that the training will foster a bright future for them.
Over 10 per cent of participants were PWDs.