by

Isyaku Garba, Programmes Coordinator

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) as part of its Unlimited Potential Programme flagged off the ICT Youth Training in Gasau, Zamfara State on Saturday 4^th July 2009. The flag off which took place at Women Multipurpose Center, Gusau was done in partnership with Future Hope Foundation (FHF). The Unlimited Potential Programme is a social corporate responsibility offering of Microsoft which aims at driving technology into communities to

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Group picture of participants

empower them transform their lives.

Future Hope Foundation FHF, which is based in Gausa Zamfara State is the host organization for the youth training programme in the state. In the partnership developed between the two organizations, FHF was responsible for recruiting of the youth to be trained as well as providing venue for the training. Under this arrangement, 34 youth would be trained and provided with opportunity to serve internship period with some organizations in the state.

Over 63 people attended the flag off ceremony held at the Women Multipurpose Center Gusau Zamfara State. Guests at the occasion included the Special Adviser to the Zamfara State Governor on NGOs who was represented by the Director NGOs (representative of the SA. NGOs, Alhaji Sunusi Gummi), the commissioner of youth represented by Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar, Director, Ministry of Youth Development and commissioner of Women affairs represented by Director, Women Affairs, Hajia Zara’u Shehu Gusau, and the PRO Nigeria Civil Defense Corp Zamfara State command.

Executive Director of the Future hope Foundation Alhaji Adamu Abubakar Kwatarkwashi explained that the partnership to deliver this training was the contribution of the partners towards reducing youth unemployment. He said 30 youth have been selected to undergo the 40-hour programme that would be delivered in two weeks. He expressed appreciation to CITAD for opting to partner with FHF in the state and hope that this was the beginning of a long partnership and cooperation.

Training Session

In his speech, the Executive Director who was represented by Isyaku Garba (Program Coordinator), gave the objectives of the training which included the preparing the youth for the workplace by equipping them with ICT and employability skills and support them with career development opportunities he called on Zamfara State government to support the youth and embrace the application of ICT for development because of its importance and opportunities in transforming societies and economies. He thanked FHF for agreeing to partner with CITAD and promised that CITAD would roll out more ICT related programmes in the State.

An example of a good partnership

He explained that under the Unlimited Potential Programme, CITAD had already trained 98 and 103 youth in Kano and Jigawa State respectively, trained 12 journalists in Kano as well as 27 Directors of Planning, Research and Statistics of Jigawa State Local Governments. Currently the organization was training 20 members of the Kantin Kwari Market Traders Association in Kano and that it was making arrangement to train journalists as well as Director of Personnel Management in Zamfara. He called on the state government to support the initiative.

While offering his goodwill message, the Director NGO encouraged the participants make the best use of this golden opportunity which had come to them free courtesy of the three organizations involved in the partnership. He said the state needed more of these efforts to extend ICT knowledge and skills to others. He commended CITAD for undertaking the training in the State which if far from its office. Similarly, the Public Relation Officer of the Nigeria Civil Defense Corp called on the participants to utilize this opportunity, and highlighted some of the important uses of ICT in today’s economic activities such as on stock exchange services.

Isyaku Garba