Vice President (VP) Senator Kashim Shettima stated that Nigeria is not only catching up with global advancements but is likely to rise to the top, both economically and technologically, as per the latest updates shared with Finbold on July 25.
The statement was issued during the launch of the AI Expertise Blockchain and Technology Training and Outsourcing Initiative in Dutse, the capital of Jigawa State.
Nigeria’s digital leadership strategy
As part of Nigeria’s strategy for regional digital leadership, Shettima also launched the 4th edition of the Expanded National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Clinic.
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He revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had authorized a grant of N150,000 for each business owner in Jigawa, a non-repayable grant aimed at supporting MSMEs nationwide.
The AI Expertise Blockchain and Technology Training and Outsourcing Initiative, together with tech company Gluwa, aims to provide 1,000 Nigerians with training in artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and related technologies each year.
Engaging the younger blockchain demographics
Speaking at the Yakubu Gowon NYSC Orientation Camp in Fanisau, Dutse, Shettima urged young Nigerians to embrace the initiative, stating:
“We are not merely catching up with the rest of the world; we are poised to overtake them. This initiative offers its beneficiaries the chance to become part of a global workforce, driving innovation that will shape our future,”
Shettima likewise praised Jigawa State’s passion for adopting digital technology, calling the program “a homecoming ceremony for those who have eased our journey through the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”
He also outlined the government’s vision to create a tech hub network across the country and power economic growth in the future.
The Gluwa partnership
He also commended the partnership with Gluwa, aligning it with President Tinubu’s agenda to revolutionize the country’s digital technology sector.
Gluwa’s collaboration with Aella Microfinance Bank has already facilitated the disbursement of over N100 billion to two million Nigerians.
Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, emphasized the initiative’s importance, encouraging the local population to engage in it.
Governor Namadi further announced the establishment of a new ICT & Digital Economy Agency.
This will reinforce Jigawa’s position as a major ICT hub in Nigeria, especially in light of the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Jigawa State’s 12-Point Agenda, which focuses on digital technologies and innovation.
The significance of MSMEs in Nigeria
At the MSMEs Clinic launch, Shettima reiterated the significance of MSMEs, which represent 96% of all businesses in Nigeria (roughly 45% to the country’s GDP).
Governor Namadi thanked the federal government for its initiatives, urging small businesses in Jigawa to seize the opportunities provided through the MSME Clinics.
The event’s highlights included the inspection of MSME exhibition pavilions and the commissioning of the Jigawa Retail Empowerment Shops.
Shettima also inaugurated a 10-hectare solar-powered irrigation farm, commissioned 1,435 agricultural extension agents, and distributed agricultural inputs under the NG CARES Fadama Programme, benefiting over 26,000 individuals, of which 30 percent are women.
The VP further launched the Palliative Shop initiative and a 120KVA solar plant at the Dutse Ultra Modern market, ensuring a minimum of eight hours of electricity per day during market hours.
Prominent figures attended the launch, including Governors Uba Sani of Kaduna, Nasir Idris of Kebbi, Deputy Governor of Katsina State Alhaji Farouq Lawal Jobe, Deputy Governor of Sokoto Idris Mohammed Gobir, and Senator Malam Madori of Jigawa North East Senatorial District, among others.
