NIIT targets 2,000 youths with ‘Street2Click’ project

By Adeyemi Adepetun

 Skills and talent development corporation, NIITFortesoft is hoping to take about 2000 youths off the

street through its new project called Street2Click.
  
NIITFortesoft explained that Streets2Click is an initiative targeted at empowering young, educationally disadvantaged Nigerian youths with in-demand I.T skills that will better position them for productivity, employment and self empowerment purposes.
   
NIITFortesoft has a proven track record in executing I.T-based projects in and around Lagos, in both corporate and educational organizations.

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The tech training institution, which noted that education is the right of every child and access to basic education is one of the key targets of the Millennium Development Goals, said Streets2Click would purposefully equip these sets of individuals with practical I.T knowledge, hopes to place 50 per cent of the trainees on internships and create avenues for self-owned businesses for beneficiaries.
   
In a keynote speech, while briefing the media on the project, Centre Manager, NIIT Ikeja, Mrs. Fortune Ossy-Ohamara, said Streets2Click is a project conferred with every ounce of richness embedded in the NIIT global brand.
  
“As far as transforming an ordinary uneducated street youth from being an I.T novice to becoming an innovative, skilled, self -empowered and employable individual, this project is a conduit to ensuring a shining future in the global workspace. In today’s technology driven world, this project is set to give a global competitive advantage to potential beneficiaries,” she stated.
   
Speaking on implementation, NIIT Brands and Communications Team, Mrs. Naomi Job, said the project development programme aimed at facilitating opportunities for I.T skills for over 2000 youths in all the 37 Local Government within Lagos State. She informed that the programme is expected to start by February 10.
   
To achieve a qualitative impact, Job said the NIIT team has thoroughly considered strict parameters to achieving desired selection process.
   
According to her, free application forms to be made available to interested candidates at all local government development Areas and wards, churches, mosques and selected NGO offices.
  
She said the project is for ages 18 to 35 years with not more than SSCE as educational qualification.
   
Job said the training will include graphics design, python programming, video editing, hardware repair and maintenance.
   
According to her, the training which targets 1000 youths in the first phase, will last for six weeks.

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On the desired result expected from the training, the Managing Director, NIITFortesoft, Lagos and Ibadan, Adedokun Oduyemi, said the firm wants to ensure the continuity of the Street2Click project towards achieving a socio-economically productive caliber of youths; to sustainably reduce youth unemployment and enhance their self-sustenance; to rightly position youths as front liners, providing I.T solutions to everyday problems using I.T skills acquired as Street2Click beneficiaries.
   
Oduyemi said they hoped that constitutionally mandated functions and decisions in field of youth development are implemented and sustained; to ensure more youths take advantage of the scheme to transform their local communities yearly; and ultimately, the country;
  
The MD said youth development is viewed and planned as an integral part of the national society’s development; youths are actively placed on paid employment such that will improve their standard of living; a continued involvement of youths in I.T programmes and structures of national societies as vital contributors, and that young people, now, more than ever, recognize and embrace technology as a socioeconomic game changer.  
   
Speaking also at the event, the Senior Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor, Akanbi Saheed, said the state government is in support of the programme, but appealed that the project should be extended to those who actually need them, especially those on the street and grassroots.