ICT is the new hope for youth employment says Prof. Adesola Aderounmu

L-R: Lead Strategist/Group Executive Editor, DigitalSENSE Africa Ltd, Mr. Remmy Nweke, Deputy Director, Spectrum Administration, Nigeria Communications Commission, Mr. Oluwatoyin Asaju, Executive Director, Operations, DigitalSENSE Africa Ltd, Mrs. Nkemdillim Nweke, Assistant General Manager, Nigerian Communication Satellite Ltd, Ms Ibiye Membere, Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Adesola Aderounmu and Team Lead, Brand and Marketing, SystemSpecs, Mr. Lanre Adelanwa

The Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of Communication Prof. Adesola Aderounmu has called on youths across the country to embrace ICT as a means of getting employment and being independent. 

Prof. Aderounmu who is also a Lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, made this known at the recently held DigitalSENSE Africa Forum held at Digital Bridge Institute, at former NITEL Training School, Cappa-Oshodi, Lagos State.

He said "I want youths to embrace
ICT learning, because those who have done so at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife where I lecture, are now big time players in ICT  world.

“Majority of them never looked for jobs before jobs started searching for them. I mean they never roamed the street looking for jobs”

Speaking also at the forum, Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigeria Communications Commission,(NCC) who was represented by  Mr. Oluwatoyin Asaju, Deputy Director, Spectrum Administration,(NCC) said the commission is committed to achieving the broadband penetration across the country. He said that the 30 percent broadband penetration by 2018 is achievable.

“Going by the record of the industry in the last 15 years, it shows that by 2018 Nigeria should be able to achieve 30 percent broadband penetration as spelt out in the broadband policy. At the moment, Nigeria has achieved 10 percent penetration.

He went further to assure those present at the event, that, "as the regulator of the telecommunications sector in Nigeria, NCC will do whatever is necessary to make sure that we facilitate the implementation of broadband. We have started already. Some companies have been licensed to provide cables across the country and some spectrums have been released that will also facilitate the implementation of broadband development in Nigeria,” he said.

Also present at the forum was Mr. Remi Afon, The National President of The Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN), who raised the,

"Stop-Think-Connect campaign’s goal to help internet users understand the risks in using the Internet, and the importance of practicing safe online behaviour."

In her remarks, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke, the Executive Director, Operations of  DigitalSENSE Africa Media, said the forum, which is the 8th edition has been able to sustain the tempo since 2009 in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission, National Information Technology Development Agency and beckons on other Corporate Nigeria to come on board too.

Other ICT stakeholders in attendance included the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano on Social Media, Anambra State, Mr. Ifeanyi Aniagoh; Manager, Broadband and Converged Solution Phase3Telecom, Deputy Director; Assistant General Manager, Nigerian Communication Satellite Ltd, Ms Ibiye Membere; Mr. Yemi Adedoyin; DigitalSENSE Lead Strategist/Group Executive Editor, Mr. Remmy Nweke; Team Lead, Brand and Marketing, SystemSpecs, and Mr. Lanre Adelanwa.