Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has lauded the commitment and drive of Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to making the dream of grooming 3 Million Technology Talents (3MTT) across Nigeria a reality in the state.
Represented by the Community Manager for the Initiative, Ibrahim Zulkifuli, the Minister spoke in Ilorin on Thursday at the graduation ceremony for the 3MTT Cohort (1) and Launch of Kwara Digital Economy platform.
The Minister described the support of the state government as “amazingly huge” and commended AbdulRazaq’s partnership in building and transforming effective learners from the project.
The 3MTT training programme is an initiative of the Federal Ministry which the Kwara State first keyed into. After a statewide sensitization and registration, Kwara got more than forty thousand entries early January, thereby enjoying massive commendation from the federal government.
“We have all seen the digital transformation in the state and what the Honourable Minister envisioned is to ensure capacity building for everybody but we could see how it is transforming from Kwara through the support of His Excellency, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq,” he said.
The event was graced by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who was represented by the Senior Advisor Alhaji Sa’adu Salau; other cabinet members and government officials in the state; technocrats in the sector; and many entrepreneurs and tech experts, including the 3MTT Training graduates.
AbdulRazaq, for his part, said the ceremony signposts the reality and prosperity of the commitment of the administration to transform Kwara state to a digital economy.
“We all know that this state was regarded as a civil servants state. You know the series of multibillion naira investments we have put in place in the last five years to make sure that we transform from analogue to digital economy. This is because the preponderance of the younger generation, the youth, constitutes a major programme of this government,” the Governor said this on the sideline of the event.
AbdulRazaq congratulated the participants and appreciated the Minister for giving the state the right support to thrive on the digitalization drive.
“The investment essentially opens Kwara State to a lot of foreign investors in the digital economy and transforms the state from what it used to be to a digitally prepared economy in the global community. We thank Mr. President, and we thank the Honourable Minister for his leadership and support in this regard”, the Governor added, asking the graduates to make the best use of the programme.
State Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology, Damilola Yusuf Adelodun, who keynoted the event alongside another techie Engr. Taofeek Abdulkareem, said the gathering attests to how Governor AbdulRazaq is fostering a culture of innovation and supporting tech programmes that she noted are instrumental to creating opportunities for the upcoming tech professionals.
She said the administration has created the Ilorin Innovation Hub to nurture and support tech talents, startups and innovations in the state.
CEO Plat Technologies, Engr Taofeek Abdulkareem, said the graduates have acquired a solid foundation through that 3MTT training but enjoined them to take a step further by cultivating a digital mindset.
Digital mindset is about thinking differently, thinking creatively, and thinking critically in the face of complexity and ambiguity, he said.
“Remember that the journey of digital transformation is a marathon, not a sprint, and your willingness to adapt, evolve, and persevere will determine your success in the digital age”, he said.
Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital Innovation, Ishola Kayode said Kwara is one of the few states across the federation that have chosen to harness the potential of the 3 Million talents programme, an action he said typifies a purposeful leadership of the Governor.
He said the administration supported the 3MTT training with laptops for participants, provision of access to internet across the training centres, as well as distribution of gadgets as reward for outstanding participants.