By Emmanuel Nduka
Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Major General Barry Tariye Ndiomu (rtd) has secured a lucrative ICT deal for ex-agitators of the oil-rich Niger Delta region.
This is as the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has agreed to grant special concessions to qualified ex-agitators by offering them scholarships in ICT training.
The latest deal struck by Ndiomu in his quest to reposition the PAP, was disclosed during a courtesy visit to the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi in Abuja recently.
As a follow up, the management of NITDA is expected to set up an inter-agency committee charged with the responsibility of engaging ex-agaitators in the new digital world.
At the meeting with NITDA, Gen. Ndiomu presented a bouquet of requests to the agency including employment, digital training or scholarship opportunities for ex-agitators within the ambit of the ICT world.
Responding, the Director-General of NITDA acceded to the various requests made by the Interim Administrator.
“We shall work with you to ensure you succeed in your assignment.
“We shall therefore set up an inter-agency committee which will serve as a bridge between NITDA and PAP. It will equally serve as a warehouse of information on digital training opportunities. Potential trainees would have easy and seamless access to the opportunities open to them,” the DG said.
He added that the Train-the-trainer, one of its flagship digital training programmes, would be of immense benefit to ex-agitators as it offers them the opportunity to earn monthly stipends while improving on their digital skills as trainers.
According to him, graduates of NITDA training programmes will be provided with the necessary tools to compete with their counterparts elsewhere as global digital entrepreneurs or global employees.
It is worthy to note that the involvement of Microsoft certification in Nigeria implies that trainees can market their skills and competences at the global space as global citizens.
Brigadier General Oluwafemi Obasa, PAP’s S.A Data is to serve as a member of the committee. He is expected to articulate the interests of PAP, as well as liaise with NITDA from time to time.
The latest deal adds to the list of strategic engagements embarked upon by Ndiomu to productively engage Niger Delta youths and change the negative narrative of the PAP.
