Emerging technologies have brought changes in skill requirements – Dipo Faulkner, Country GM, IBM Nigeria

Date:

Share post:

The digital economy is a wide field of new realities; therefore it has brought with it fresh requirements for those who must take advantage of it. Speaking during the signing of an MoU with the Federal Government in Abuja earlier, the Country General Manager for the International Business Machine (IBM) Nigera, warned that those who seek to stay relevant in the 21st century economy must possess a degree of digital skills.

Whereas many Nigerians lag behind in the areas of adaptability to new technology, which is the core of the digital economy, the MoU signed between the Federal Government and the IBM aims to close the gap in basic knowledge.

Faulkner emphasised the need for schools to give priority to teaching digital skills. He said this will ensure the future workforce will not only possess academic knowledge but have sufficient skills to survive in a world that is dominated by new technologies.

Reiterating the necessity of the MoU, he explained, “IBM works with governments and key Ministries to address the societal impact of digital technology, leveraging its investment in education with platforms such as IBM Digital Nation Africa.”

The new partnership will scale job skills across urbane and rural cities in the country.

Highlighting the impact of the MoU, the Minister for Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Ali, said, “the MoU provides a platform to empower  Nigerian youths with digital literacy skills, to enable innovation, design and development of indigenous solutions, self-sufficiency and make Nigeria a hub for critical skills for Africa and the world at large”.

Broadband penetration still remains a key challenge in Nigeria. While access to digital devices and data has been made more affordable by new entrants into the mobile device market from Asia, and intense competition among telcos and ISP, fee for Right of Way (RoW) has turned into a contention among states and broadband firms.

It is hoped that the skills of the team on the National Broadband Committee will come to bear to ensure harmonisation and agreement for the prosperity of the new economy.

Toyin Afilaka
Toyin Afilaka
Toyin Afilaka writes with simplicity and insight. He aims to enrich the Nigerian small business landscape. Through Hustle24 he connects entrepreneurs with information about new policies, enterprise solutions and opportunities that will aid their 'hustle'. He has written extensively for CobraReview, a product review portal, and served as a lead project manager for MarketingMix where he consulted as PR consultant for MTN Project Fame and Business Next Titan etc.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here
Captcha verification failed!
CAPTCHA user score failed. Please contact us!

Related articles

Olam Agri Launches Tasty, New Crown Spaghetti Variance

Crown Flour Mill (CFM) Limited, the wheat milling and pasta business of Olam Agri in Nigeria, has unveiled...

Three (3) ways to create value and ensure retention – Kenny Bakare, SSA on Grassroots Empowerment, Lagos State Government

Product and service obsession can be a trap that limits what your offerings eventually deliver at usage or...

VR 1820 Awarded Best Quality Brandy Brand in Nigeria

Vecchia Romagna (VR) 1820, a leading Italian brandy distributed in Nigeria by Fidossi Wines and Spirits, underlined its...

Five (5) Ways to Boost Your Small Business’ Productivity

How much you can get done with the least available resources can determine how smooth your trip to...