As part of measures to address youth unemployment, the Enugu State government has entered into partnership with Africa Leadership Accelerator (ALX), to train youths in the state on modern skills in tech.
State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Lyold Ekweremadu Jnr, disclosed this during a press conference on the initiatives on Thursday, which was held at the NUJ Press Center, Enugu.
Reiterating the determination and commitment of Governor Peter Mbah-led administration to youth development, Ekweremadu, maintained that the training will help the youths to be gainfully employed.
The Commissioner noted that the state’s government partnership with Alx was borne out of its track records of connecting young people in the world and wanted “the youth of Enugu state to tap from their knowledge base, to take charge of Tech and lead the world.
Ekweremadu said, “We are bringing to the youths of Enugu Artificial Intelligence (AI). We want to reduce youth unemployment by 70% by 2030. We have not tapped the goods of AI in terms of getting jobs. The AI Career Essentials training will last for 6 weeks. It is free and it is for people between 18- 35 years.”
He said the state government was also working out other programmes which included Data Analytics, AWS Cloud Computing, Frontend Web Development, backend Web development, Salesforce administration, Data science among others at a subsidized.
According to him, participants will pay a token which will be given back to them on completion of the training adding that the fee will make them to be committed in the programme.
Also speaking, the Country Marketing Manager, African Leadership Accelerators (alx) Nigeria, Seun Babagide- Duroshola, commended the Enugu state Government for the partnership.
She dismissed general insinuations that AI has come to take people’s jobs, adding, “AI is the ability to change our lives. It is not taking anybody’s job. It helps to know whichever tools to utilize as a Doctor, Carpenter, plumber and so on,” She said.
Babajide-Durosola said the training will be online which participants can do in their comfort zones, anywhere they are.
On her part, the Country Director, Ruby Igwe said in the nearest future, ALX programmes will be extended to young people below 18 years.
She called on the youths to avail themselves of the opportunity and be part of the training.
