Wealth Creation: Johnson unveils MicroWork, urges states buy-in

SA Media to CommTech Minister, Mrs Efem Nkanga, president DBI

 Profl Ray Akwule, CommTech Minister, Mrs. Omobola Johnson,

Perm Sec and ISPON president, chief Chris Uwaje at the STEP-B launch in Lagos

Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson was in Lagos on Monday afternoon to unveil the MicroWork for Job Creation in Nigeria, urging state governments across the country to buy into the project in effort to reduce unemployment in the country.

Speaking to newsmen after declaring open the three-day workshops at the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) campus in Lagos, Mrs. Johnson said the event is also holding in Abuja and will soon berth at the city of Kano among other states.

Though she denied any atom of challenge at this stage of the project, saying that some state commissioners were invited to be witness the unveiling of the being organised in partnership with the Science and Technology Education Post-Basic (STEP-B) Project of the World Bank, and the Federal Ministry of Education.

“… There is nothing stopping them from taking this up by liaising with the National Coordinator on this project to drive it further to their states,” she tasked the participating commissioners.

On the insistence of the likes of PayPals and MoneyBookers not to accommodate Internet Protocol (IP) from Nigeria, which made it difficult for startup online entrepreneurs, Mrs. Johnson disclosed that her ministry in collaboration with the programme coordinators have since engaged local payment switches so as to make this process easier for Nigerians and particularly the participants of this workshop.

“Of course, there is alternative and that is what has taken us about six months to get to where we are now. So, we have local payment switches, including Interswitch and others, so that people can actually be paid in Nigeria,” she said.

The Minister further disclosed that an estimated 950 participants took part in the first session held at the opening of the workshop, maintaining that the criterion for taking part at the event is not far fetched.

“As for the criterion, as long as you register and can speak and write English and you can use computer,” she declared, adding that many youths are going to benefit from this programme, noting that what this phase is all about is to create that awareness on the opportunities that are available.

The minister was joined at the event by the Permanent Secretary, CommTech Ministry, President of DBI, Prof. Raymond Akwule and representative of STEP-B project at World Bank for Nigeria among others.

 
DigitalSENSE Business News recalls that the recent studies by the World Bank and the Federal Government had shown that most new jobs in Nigeria will be created at the intersection of technology, Information and Communication as well as services.

Remmy Nweke/DSB News
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