Enugu Govt, ALX partner to reduce youth unemployment by 70 % through tech

The ENUGU State government says it has entered into partnership with Africa Leadership Accelerator, ALX, to train youths in ENUGU on modern skills in tech.

This is part of the measures put in place to reduce youths unemployment and help the youths to be gainfully employed.

Mr Lyold Ekweremadu Jnr, Commissioner for Youths and Sports, disclosed this on Thursday, while briefing journalists on the initiatives at the NUJ Press Center, Enugu.

Ekweremadu reiterated the determination of the Governor Peter MBAH administration to youth development.

The Commissioner noted that the state’s government partnership with Alx was borne out of its has track records of connecting young people in the world and and wanted “the youth of Enugu state to tap from their knowledge base, to take  charge  of Tech and lead the world.

Ekweremadu said, “We are bringing to the youths of Enugu Artificial Intelligence (AI). We want  to reduce youth unemployment by 70% by 2030. We have not tapped the goods of AI in terms of getting jobs”. The AI Career Essentials training  will last for 6 weeks. It  is free and it is for people between 18- 35 years”.

He said the state government was also working out other programmes which included Data Analytics, AWS Cloud Computing, Frontend Web Development, backend Web development, Salesforce administration, ,Data science among others at a subsidized.

He added that the participants will pay a token which will given back to them on completion of the training adding that the fee will make them to be committed in the programme.

ALSO speaking, the  Country Marketing Manager,  African Leadership Accelerators ( alx) Nigeria, Seun Babagide- Duroshola, hailed the Enugu state Government for the partnership.

She dismissed general insinuations that AI has come to take people’s jobs,  rather, “AI is the ability to change our lives. It is not taking anybody’s job. It  helps to know whichever tools to utilize as a Doctor, Carpenter, plumber and so on,” She said.

Babajide-Durosola said the training will be online which participants can do in their comfort zones, anywhere they are.

On her part, the Country Director, Ruby Igwe said in the nearest future, ALX programmes will be extended to young people below 18 years.

She called on the youths to avail themselves of the opportunity and be part of the training.

Some beneficiaries of alx programmes in Nigeria shared their experiences on how alx has helped them to acquire relevant skills in technology which has afforded them better job opportunities.