The Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta has commended 9mobile Telecommunications Company for its initiatives targeted at empowering Nigerian youths, especially in digital skills acquisition.
The industry regulator gave the commendation in his a lecture at the launch of the Digital Bichi Emirate Initiative and graduation of the pilot class of the 9mobile-sponsored digital skills entrepreneurship programme for youths as part of activities to mark the coronation of the Board Chairman of 9mobile, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Nasir Ado Bayero as the second Emir of Bichi, at the weekend in Kano, Kano State.
The EVC explained that the programme aligned with key policies developed by the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, including the Nigeria National Broadband Plan 2020-2025, the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy 2010-2030, and the National Policy on Promotion of Indigenous Content in the Nigerian telecommunications sector (NPPIC), to promote a digital economy.
In his remarks at the event, the Visioner of the Bichi digital skills programme and Chairman, Board of Directors of EMTS (9mobile), His Highness Alhaji Nasir Ado Bayero, the Emir of Bichi, commended the telco for its support for the youths of the Emirate through its sponsorship of the digital skills program.
The Emir said: “On behalf of the Bichi Emirate Council and the good people of Bichi, I wish to specially express my profound gratitude to the board and management of 9mobile for the support shown to our people. We, therefore, hope to receive many more of this kind of gesture in the future.”
Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, pointed out that the initiative also aligned with his administration’s efforts to empower and create meaningful employment for the youths and assured the state government’s readiness to collaborate with the telco on other initiatives that will benefit the good people of Kano State.
Ganduje advised the graduands to put the skills they have acquired to good use to impact the lives of their families, communities, and the state in general.
In his comments at the forum, the Acting Chief Executive Officer, 9mobile, Mr. Juergen Peschel, reiterated the telco’s commitment to youth empowerment, adding that the 9mobile Bichi Emirate Digital Skills programme is one of the company’s efforts to contribute Nigeria’s development by providing digital skill acquisition opportunities for youths in line with the Government’s agenda on digital transformation.
He expatiated: “In a country endowed like Nigeria with two-thirds of its population within the youth bracket, the question has always been about how to empower young people with relevant and sustainable skills and create the enabling environment for them to channel their energies and innovation into productive enterprises that can be harnessed for national development.
“This is what informs all our ground-breaking youth-centred initiatives”, Peschel added.
