From JOHNSON NONGU, Makurdi
The Royal Heritage Health Foundation (RHHF), in collaboration with the Benue Ministry of Youth, Sports and Creativity and with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has begun a five-day digital literacy training for 120 participants in Makurdi.
The Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Creativity, Nick Eworo, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Philip Nongu, said the ministry planned to organise three additional digital literacy programmes for young people.
The Director-General of the Benue Bureau for Infrastructure and Digital Compliance, Leonard Viashima, said participants were drawn from ministries, departments and agencies to spread digital knowledge across government establishments.
“We need to establish a community of practice involving relevant government agencies to sustain collaboration, share resources and strengthen digital literacy initiatives beyond the training,” Viashima said.
The UNFPA Benue Programme Officer, Adamu Hamman, said the training would cover basic digital literacy, artificial intelligence, digital marketing, graphic design, digital safety and AI ethics.
He said trained facilitators would replicate the sessions for other participants and that the training would be delivered in English, Hausa and other relevant local languages.
“Digital skills have become essential for education, employment, entrepreneurship and access to information.
“The programme would help participants overcome technological barriers and explore new livelihood opportunities,” Hamman said.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Theresa Ikwue, represented by Teryima Orkuma, urged participants to share their knowledge, while the UNHCR Head of Field Office in Benue, Evelyn Katono, said training facilitators could enable more young people and communities to benefit from digital skills.