Cephas Iorhemen 
The Benue State Government has kick-off the training of 10,000 youths in digital skills and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as part of strategies to create jobs for the teeming unemployed youth of the state.
The six months training programme which is being undertake by the Benue Tech Skills Programme (BTSP) id expected to generate at least 50,000 jobs.
Lead Consultant of the programme, Jeffrey Udende while speaking at the commencement of the programme, commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for availing Benue youths the opportunity to develop themselves.
He said, “What the government is doing is not just training the youths but those who have done this successfully and have no jobs will be given jobs.
“We are training 10,000 youths physically and online. We created the online classroom because of those who applied and went for NYSC.
“The good thing about the training is that the jobs are hanging. This is the first government in Nigeria that is giving the youths intensive digital ICT training.
“In fact, the participants are doing very well and we are looking at exporting the talents before the end of the training period because all of them that are getting on well will get jobs.
“So the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia deserves all the commendation for giving our youths this opportunity to develop themselves and become useful to themselves and the society and also generate over 50,000 jobs”.
The Training Consultant, Samson Igoche said “the training is an initiative of the state government and it is to get beneficiaries start developing local content. It will also launch the Benue youth into the global economy.”
A trainees, John Elor appreciated the state government for the opportunity to improve his livelihood saying Cyber Security is one of the courses we are undertaking and we know that it has global demand and it comes with several opportunities.
“So we cannot thank the state government enough for this life changing opportunity”.
