The Administrator, Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, has called on African governments to launch an aggressive intervention in the ICT sector by investing in digital skills to stimulate economic growth and youth employment.
Adinde made this known at the just-concluded International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Digital Bridge Institute Regional Human Capacity Building Workshop in Abuja, according to a statement made available to New Telegraph in Lagos.
The three days’ workshop had the theme: “Strengthening Capacity on Internet Governance in Africa.”
He said policy makers and the governments in Africa ought to launch aggressive intervention into the ICT industry by investing in skills development to stimulate economic growth and tame the rising tide of youth joblessness and associated insecurity in the region.
He lauded the ITU for establishing training centres but regretted “only a few of our youths have the wherewithal to enrol for some of the human capacity training opportunities provided by the ITU centres of excellence and other tertiary institutions. This makes the case for intervention even more imperative,’’ he said.
According to the DBI boss, there is a convincing argument that if Africa wants to transform and become a global player, it must transform its human capital.
Adinde said Africa must open access to quality education and training for the young population by deliberately creating funds that will increase access to acquisition of digital skills.
