ABUJA–The federal government yesterday signed a Memorandum of
Understanding, MoU with a Chinese technology firm to provide 2000 Information
and Communication Technology, ICT trainee jobs to young Nigerians in 2016 under
the “Huawei’s Seeds for the Future program.”
Speaking at the signing of the MoU performed by the Minister for Labour
and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige and that of Communications, Barrister Adebayo
Shittu, on behalf of the federal government and witnessed by the Chinese
Ambassador Mr. Gu Xiaojie, the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo stated
that “ICT is one of the quickest ways people can get decent jobs, so we think
this is absolutely important.”
He further said that the Programme was part of the change agenda of the
president Mohammadu Bihari’s administration to create jobs for the youth.
“In the change agenda, how to grow the economy is important, and we want
to create ICT hubs and support existing ones. We thank Huawei for this
initiative of advancing technology in Nigeria, apart from the job creation
itself”, he said.
Osinbajo revealed that in the face of the current poor rating of Nigeria
in the global rankings of business environments, president Buhari has already
given the Trade, Industry & Investment Minister the task of addressing the
challenges of doing business in the country.
He remarked that the relationship between Nigeria and China is a
strategic one, urging Chinese investors and business leaders to consider
Nigeria for manufacturing plants.
He said the Chinese investors “should encourage not just the selling,
but also the manufacturing of products in Nigeria.”
Also speaking at the event, the Chinese Ambassador,Xiaojie, stated that
China was in partnership with the Buhari presidency in the “change” agenda,
especially in areas like Agricultural modernization, industrialization,
infrastructure, trade and investment, poverty alleviation, and peace and
security among others.
Meanwhile, Mr. Richard Cao, the Vice President of Huawei West Africa
signed for the Chinese Information Communication and technology firm.
The 2000 trainees would be selected and supervised by Ministries of
Labour and Communications.
Commending the initiative, Labour and Employment Minister, Ngige said
that “China has blazed the trail,” with the job creation MOU with the Buhari
presidency.
This was as his counter-part in Communications, Shittu also hailed the
Programme, urging the firm to consider setting up a technology institute or
polytechnic in Nigeria.
Also speaking, the Vice President of Huawei West Africa, Cao said that
“Huawei has long been committed to developing Nigeria’s ICT sector, and is
working hard to build a Better Connected Nigeria. At the same time as
delivering cutting-edge ICT technologies and services to Nigeria, we are also
committed to fostering a skilled local ICT workforce.”
He added that “as a leading global supplier of ICT products and
solutions, Huawei will continue to share its global experience in the
development of the ICT industry with the Nigeria government. We hope to become
a strategic partner to the Nigeria government in the future ICT planning and
development, and will continue to expand our contributions and training
programs in Nigeria.”
Source: Vanguard-By Levinus Nwabughiogu
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