Since March when schools were closed to curb COVID-19 spread, the Federal Government says it has developed two virtual Information Technology academies.
It also reported that 33,000 Nigerians had participated in both academies and learned different IT competencies, including artificial intelligence and 5 G technology.
This was announced by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, at the virtual inauguration of six ICT projects located in four states.
The inaugurated facilities included essentially two IT hubs each at Lagos University and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, as well as an ICT Community Center, Daura, Katsina State.
Others were the regional office of NiGCOMSAT North-West, Kaduna; Emergency Communications Center, Kaduna; and an ICT center in Enugu State Polytechnic, Iwolo.
Pantami identified the Lagos and Zaria IT hubs as world-class centers promoting digital skills, contributing to solid digital infrastructure, digital services , digital society and emerging technologies, and promoting digital content.
According to the minister, such hubs act as IT centers of excellence where young innovators can be found, mentored, supported and connected with the institutions concerned.
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) announced that the President would undertake the infrastructural projects that Nigerians promised before the end of his tenure in the country. The Minister for Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said.
Fashola said that in the 560 kms of Kano-Maiduguri highway under construction the federal government is installing a broadband fibre network.
According to him, all the towns and cities along the road will have access to quick Internet once the project is complete.
Finance, Budget, and National Planning Minister Zainab Ahmed, who was a guest at the gathering, noted that the use of digital technologies had helped people cope with the corona-virus pandemic.
According her, the programs would assist young people in enlarging their mental potential, continuing them learn and enhancing the quality of medical care and other services.
