Pantami calls for digital skills preference over certificates

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has reiterated that Nigeria should give preference to skills over paper qualifications for youths to enable them fit into various sectors of the economy.

Pantami who spoke at the official commissioning of five Digital Economy projects in Gombe State, facilitated by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), stressed that Nigeria should focus more on acquiring skills in the digital age.

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The minister said that in some countries, people were engaged not because of the school they attended or the impressive degree certificate they obtained, but because of the skills they possessed to work practically.

While commenting on Federal Government’s commitment towards realisation of digital economy, Pantami said the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari had been making efforts move to diversify the nation’s economy from natural resources economy to knowledge economy.

The five digital economy projects that were commissioned by the minister on behalf of President  Buhari are: NITDA IT Hub, Gombe State Univesity, NITDA Innovation and Incubation Park, Federal University Kashare, ICT Community Centre, Tudun Wada, IT Training Centre, Dukku, and Nigerian Communications Satellite Regional Office, all in the Jewel State.