The Benue state government has launched a free digital skills programme aimed at training 23,000 young people, as part of efforts to reduce unemployment and prepare them for jobs in the digital economy.
The initiative is being implemented through the Benue Digital Infrastructure Company (BDIC) in collaboration with Cisco Networking Academy and in partnership with AfDIC.
Governor Hyacinth Alia, represented at the event by the state’s commissioner for ICT and Digital Economy, said the programme shows the government’s commitment to giving young people practical skills.
“We want our youths to compete globally. Access to digital knowledge is no longer optional,” the commissioner said at the flag-off ceremony in Makurdi.
State officials said the training would focus on globally recognised technology courses, adding that certificates earned under the Cisco platform are accepted in many countries.
The managing director of BDIC, Gbande Hembaor Terwase, described the partnership as a step toward connecting Benue youths to international opportunities. He urged participants to complete the programme and take advantage of the skills offered.
Beyond training, BDIC said it would create internship openings for participants and set up a talent bank to link trained youths with employers. The agency also plans to provide workspace and internet access for those who secure remote digital jobs but lack the facilities to work.
The state government said the digital drive is part of a wider reform effort. Officials disclosed that 40,000 civil servants are also undergoing digital training, with 10,000 already trained across ministries and local governments.
According to BDIC, more than 16 government ministries and agencies have been connected to fibre infrastructure. The agency has also partnered with local firms to assemble branded computers and worked with a microfinance bank to help civil servants purchase devices through instalment payments.
A representative of Cisco Networking Academy at the event said digital skills are essential in today’s job market and commended the state for investing in training at scale.
“You cannot thrive in a digital economy without digital skills,” he said, adding that the courses meet global workforce standards.
Participants welcomed the programme, saying it would improve their chances of getting jobs or working online for international clients.
With the new training scheme, Benue joins other Nigerian states seeking to position young people for work in technology and remote services, as governments look for new ways to tackle rising youth unemployment.
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