In furtherance of its mandate of deepening information technology penetration in the country, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has distributed laptop computer sets to 55 disabled persons in Abuja.
Distributing the items, the Acting Director General of NITDA, Dr. Vincent Olatunji said the event was in fulfillment of NITDA’s plan to lift the disabled persons from state of hopelessness and poverty to becoming independent income earners.
He said that the action became necessary in view of the current economic uncertainties confronting the nation.
‘‘What we are witnessing is a continuation of training programme that commenced on Monday.
‘‘What we are witnessing is a continuation of training programme that commenced on Monday.
‘‘With the outcome of the first edition, NITDA decided to replicate it in 2016, despite the huge number involved and the economic challenges.
‘‘With the dwindling price of oil in the international market, it became necessary for the country to deploy IT as a panacea to the increasing poverty and unemployment.
‘‘The programme is important because the less privileged were empowered to fend for themselves.’’
The event was the second edition in the series after the maiden edition held in 2015 with over 40 beneficiaries empowered with computer skills and computer sets.
Beyond the computer sets, beneficiaries participated in a four-day intensive computer training to equip them with requisite skills that would enable them become economically independent.
With the over 25.5 million Nigerians living with disability, theNITDA boss maintained that Nigeria would get rid of high rate of poverty, unemployment and youth restiveness, if the citizens, particularly the people with disability were empowered with IT.
With the over 25.5 million Nigerians living with disability, theNITDA boss maintained that Nigeria would get rid of high rate of poverty, unemployment and youth restiveness, if the citizens, particularly the people with disability were empowered with IT.