The KAD ICT Hub, established to bridge the digital gap in Kaduna State, said that it had trained 10,000 residents of the state in different digital skills from inception in 2017 to 2020.
The Hub’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Yusuf Bashir, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Saturday.
Bashir said that the beneficiaries were trained on web and mobile app designs, hardware, artificial intelligence, internet of things and block chain technologies.
He said that some of the beneficiaries had established some startups and were already exploiting the digital space.
He identified some of the startups to include Dalsman Tech, JobMarche, Aeropaye, and ABM Express.
Bashir said that KAD ICT Hub had signed a Tripartite Agreement with Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and Usman Dalhatu, the Chief Executive Officer of Dalsman Tech.
“Dalhatu has successfully built a sweeping machine called `Beyond Clean’ and a ventilator named `Respire-19 Ventilator’.
“Another startup is a JobMarche, which connects freelance job seekers and freelance job providers across the world.
“Aeropaye is another startup from KAD ICT Hub that offers block chain services for airlines, flight booking structure and key system as well as airline billing and settlement plan.
“ABM Express, also another startup, is offering office, motor parks and door to door deliveries, errands and shopping services,” he said.
Bashir also said that the ICT Hub in partnership with Yasmin EL-Rufai Foundation had trained 200 women on basic Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and digital marketing.
He said that the Hub had developed the Kaduna State online vehicle registration platform www.kadvreg.ng with the potential to generate N3.5 billion annually for the state.
Bashir noted that KAD ICT Hub and Toes to Heels Initiative, in partnership with the U.S. Embassy, Abuja, would roll out the second cohort of Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) in Kaduna State.
“AWE is a White House-led initiative designed to empower women entrepreneurs worldwide with the skills and resources to bring their bright entrepreneurial ideas to life.
“The programme equips women with the tools needed to create and grow their own businesses, raise capital and effectively network with other successful business owners.
“The intensive programme is scheduled to run from December 2020 to March 2021,” Bashir said.
NAN reports that KAD ICT Hub, had on Dec. 9, announced plans to train one million residents of Kaduna State on digital skills to create entrepreneurs and boost employment opportunities.
The training will be conducted in partnership with the French Development Agency (FDA), under Educational Technology Implementation Plan Project and supervised by the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.
KAD ICT Hub, a partnership between Kaduna State Government and Telemax Engineering Services Ltd., was established in 2017.
It brings together companies such as Coders4Africa, Draper Dark Flow and Gebeya, first-of-a-kind centre that incubates world-class technologies, talents and innovation. (NAN)
