By Chioma Iruke
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has lauded Unicorn Group for its efforts in investing in youth development and skill acquisition.
The commendation was given in Lagos during the commissioning the Unicorn Incubation Campus.
The Incubation Campus which prides itself to be Africa’s largest, intends to prepare and equip Nigerian youths in the application of science, technology, and innovation to create home-grown business solutions to everyday problems in different sectors of the economy.
Speaking at the event, Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Wabote promised the Board’s partnership to further channel the creativity and energy of Nigerian youths to promote peace, development, and excellence.
He noted that the provision of the world-class platform would facilitate education, training, mentorship, infrastructure, and long-term capital to entrepreneurs and start-ups in technology-enabled sectors.
He commended the promoters of the project for choosing to invest in the development of human capacity and nurturing of tech and innovation start-ups.
He said: “This incubation campus could have been utilized as a shopping mall, hotel or rental apartments. The choice to invest in our youths and nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs is truly patriotic and inspiring.”
The ES reiterated that the key mandates of the Board under the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, is to develop local capacities and capabilities, monitor compliance and enforce the provisions of the Act.
“Our vision is to serve as a catalyst for the industrialization of the Nigerian oil and gas industry and its linkage sectors. These linkage sectors include power, construction, ICT, and several others. I have no doubt that this Unicorn Incubation Campus is definitely a place that will catalyse innovation and creative ideas to address modern challenges,” he added.
Wabote also harped on the need for Nigerians to prepare and position themselves to embrace the 4th Industrial Revolution that is already underway, especially with Cloud Computing, Internet of Things, Robotics, Big Data, and many more disruptions that have emerged.
He added that facilities such as the Unicorn Incubation Campus are very vital in the ecosystem of technology development infrastructure.
Recalling some of the Board’s achievements and intervention programs, especially in capacity building and Human Capacity Development, he assured that there is room to do more from stakeholders in the public and private sectors.
