Lagos State partners bank, Microsoft on skills acquisition

The Lagos State Ministry of Employment and Wealth Creation in partnership with Sterling Bank, Audax Solutions Limited, Microsoft, Etisalat and Andela, has announced the 2016 Lagos Study Programme as part of its strategic focus on youth empowerment and skill acquisition.

The 11-week programme, which is billed to train a total of 500 young participants in software development, will hold at Audax Solutions Training Centre located at Plot 24, Block 113, Adebisi Ogunniyi Crescent, Lekki. It will commence on September 5, 2016.

The Ministry in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos, explained that 100 participants out of the proposed 500 would be trained over the 11-week period in the initial phase, while the other 400 would be trained subsequently.

According to the Ministry, participants would be introduced to the practical concepts of software development with a view to helping them develop careers in the ICT space. They will also be taught the basics of coding which will increase their probability of having a successful career in information technology, the Ministry added.

“We are of the opinion that the initiative would make positive impact in the life of the unemployed youths with the inclusion of Software Development in the training programme.

“It will also provide employment opportunities for unemployed youths in the ICT space, create a partnership model for employability training and skills development while empowering young talents by providing the technical skills to perform excellently in the Technology ecosystem,” the ministry said in a statement.

Sterling Bank in the statement assured of its continued support for projects that would advance the development of human capital especially among the youth in the country.

The Bank’s Group Head in charge of Strategy and Communications, Shina Atilola, stated that the Bank was particularly delighted to have been part of a similar programme, the Computer Science Education Week Hour of Code in Nigeria organized for children by Audax Solutions.

He explained that the children who took part in the programme “raised our hope that we still have a crop of children with potential to be among the best in the world in the area of information technology if given the right exposure and encouragement.”

Similarly, officials from other sponsors, Audax Solutions Limited, Microsoft, Etisalat and Andela are of the opinion that the programme would showcase the hidden talent in our youth that will propel them to greater heights in the information technology age.