By Marie-Therese Nanlong

Jos- A collaboration between the Plateau State Information and Communication Technology Development Agency, PICTDA and the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy’s 3 Million Technical Talent, 3MTT initiative has been strengthened to encourage more youths in the State to boost their digital skills and innovation.

So far, 2,487 Plateau citizens have been trained under the initiative, especially in the aspect of cybersecurity which had 533 participants. PICTDA targets to train an additional 5,000 citizens in the 3rd cohort of the initiative and ensure the State boosts its place in ICT skill acquisition in the country.

Recently, the State Government engaged with the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijjani to discuss ways of creating a more conducive ICT learning environment in the State and the development followed a visit by Mr. Victor Abel, the 3MTT Community Manager for Plateau State to PICTDA, to strengthen the State’s participation in the programme.

Speaking during the visit which took place at the Government House, Little Rayfield, Jos, the Director-General of PICTDA, Datong Dominic highlighted the significance of the collaboration in driving meaningful skill development in the State and stated the initiative aligns with Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s agenda of empowering youth through skills development, ensuring they are better equipped to thrive in the digital economy.

He disclosed that nearly 48% of those trained are women, signaling increasing female interest in ICT but lamented that despite the strides, Plateau State currently ranks 17th among the States participating in the programme.

Datong said the Agency identified the lack of synergy between the State and the initiative as a major obstacle, which the agency aims to resolve during the 3rd cohort of the programme.

He said “Our goal is to close this gap and ensure that Plateau State maximizes the opportunities offered by the 3MTT programme. To streamline communication and enhance coordination, PICTDA has provided office space within the Government House for the programme’s focal person. This initiative is designed to foster better alignment between PICTDA, the State government, and the 3MTT project, ensuring more effective program implementation.

“This partnership will help reduce duplication of efforts. The 3 Million Technical Talents initiative is robust enough to drive substantial skills development in Plateau State. By working closely together, we can ensure the programme has a far-reaching impact. This partnership reflects our commitment to equipping Plateau residents with the skills they need to thrive in the digital economy. Our vision is to make Plateau a hub for digital talent in Nigeria.”