By Emeka Aginam

As an intervention strategy to rising youths unemployment leveraging on Information Communication Technology, (ICT), the World Bank has disclosed that it would commit $300,000  in the Microwork for Job Creation-Naijacloud project that seeks to reduce unemployment and create wealth for Nigerian youths.

The Microwork for job creation naijacloud is an initiative targeted at unemployed Nigerians using the Technology platform.

The Ministry with support from the STEP-B project of the World Bank , under the Ministry of Education launched the ‘Microwork for Jobs Creation in Nigeria’ simultaneously in Lagos and Abuja to address the issues of employability and job creation using information technology.

At the unveiling of the project , the national coordinator of SPEP-B project of the World Bank who was represented by Seyi Agunbiade told the gathering that the Nigerian youths must leverage in the initiate to be globally competition in the job market.

“Any unemployed youth who leverages in this project will be self reliance. They do not need to look for job in the market. ICT is power. Youths must embrace this laudable initiative. This is the time,” she said.

Earlier in her remarks, the Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson with optimism said that in line with its mandate to create jobs by taking advantage of fast-growing ICTs in Nigeria was tapping into the Microwork opportunity in order to reduce youth unemployment, which currently is high at 60% level for youth.

‘Microwork for Job Creation in Nigeria’ initiative includes two aspects of Paid Crowdsourcing technology: Microwork and e-Lancing. Paid crowdsourcing is an expanding segment within the new virtual economy with significant job creation potential for skilled (e-Lancing) and semi-skilled workers (Microwork). The estimated global size of the microwork market is $450 million to $900 million annually,” she added.

According to the minister, the unique selling point of this initiative is that participants do not have to be university graduates to attend as the the minimum requirement is basic computer skills and English.

The primary objective of the project is to create awareness about the work opportunities in the Microwork and ELancing space as well as create job opportunities for youths in Nigeria in order to reduce the unemployment rate.