Nyamira County has graduated its first cohort of youth equipped with competitive ICT skills courtesy of the county digital youth empowerment programme initiated by Governor Amos Nyaribo.
The Governor stated that the empowerment programme is geared towards equipping the youths with ICT skills for innovation and digital savvy skills to be empowered and be ready to take-up the vast range of technology related job opportunities both local and internationally.
He graced the graduation ceremony, Wednesday, at Nyamira County Headquarters where 20 youths who had successfully completed a one-month ICT course graduated.
“The establishment and launch of this digital ICT hub is an initiative which is in line with my campaign manifesto in agenda seven on youths and sports. This hub is an affirmation of my commitment to empowering our youth for social and economic transformation. It is more than a training center, since it is a beacon of hope and an epicenter of digital excellence, promoting relevant digital literacy, fostering ICT related entrepreneurial startups for wealth creation to sustain livelihoods of our young people.”
He said the digital skills learnt will enable the youths to reduce poverty in their households, revealing that Nyamira County’s poverty index is at 7.6 percent and such empowerment programmes will give job opportunities to the youths, who will in turn contribute in reducing the county’s poverty level to an ambitious target of 3 percent.
“The launch of this digital hub is just the beginning, with 32 installed work stations and availability of high-speed internet, we will work tirelessly round the clock to train 30 students monthly in each cohort, to successfully train-up to 360 students annually.” Governor Nyaribo guaranteed.
He assured that his government is committed to establishing other ICT hubs in the remaining 4 Sub- counties, to ensure no youth is left behind in the transformative opportunity for it will have a direct and immediate impact in their communities and economy.
“I congratulate you for being our gallant trailblazer empowered to conquer the world. Moreover, I challenge our young people waiting to join tertiary institutions, those looking for jobs and those on long holiday, to seize this moment and add a feather of skills to their professions.” Nyaribo remarked.
The ICT lead trainer, Ms. Teresa Abuga, a lecturer from Kisii University, confirmed the one-month training was intense, hands-on and the learners were eager to learn and were very cooperative.
“Areas covered include; digital foundation, content writing, transcription, virtual assistance, web development, graphic design, cyber security fundamentals on prompt engineering,” Ms. Abuga listed.
She assured that the skills were very relevant in the current economy that is digitally wired and skills acquired will enable them to confidently compete in the job market, drive ICT systems and thrive both locally and globally.
Nyamira South Sub-county Deputy County Commissioner, Florence Obunga, challenged the youths to apply for the NYOTA opportunities, so that they can be able to procure equipment and software needed to access job-opportunities online and create opportunities for fellow youths.
Speaking on behalf of the graduands, Samuel Kirago testified that he thought the programme was intense, the skills gained were worth the sacrifice and would enable them venture into innovation and self-employment in the competitive job market.
In attendance were the County Secretary, Dr Jack Magara, County Executive Committee Members (CECMs), Emilly Ongaga (Education), Kennedy Angwenyi (Public Service Management), Benard Maina (Trade), Alice Manoti (Youths and Gender) and Steve Oboso (Land and urban Development) and Dr. Donald Mogoi (Health), parents and relatives of the graduates, among others.
by Deborah Bochere
