VP Shettima Launches FG/ALAT Skillnovation to Benefit Over 3m MSMEs

The Nigerian government and ALAT have launched Skillnovation Programme to support digital skill adoption among medium, small, micro enterprises (MSMEs) and enhance productivity growth.

Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima during the launch ceremony in Abuja at the weekend described the Skillnovation as a “transformative initiative that ushers in a new era of digital empowerment for” Nigerians.

Adding: “We are compelled to tread this path by the direction in which the world has headed, a world of disruptive technologies redefined by the fourth Industrial Revolution.

“This initiative is a response to the evolution of the modern business environment, an acknowledgment that digital skills have become the cornerstone of economic ease and expansion.”

The initiative is expected to arm over over three million Nigerians with digital skills participate actively in Nigeria’s burgeoning digital economy.

The Skillnovation Programme will establish 15 state-of-the-art ICT centres across Nigeria to provide individuals and businesses alike with access to cutting-edge digital training, resources, and support.

The first phase of the programme holds in Katsina, Anambra, Borno, Lagos, Oyo, and Kano, while the second phase will include Delta, Kaduna, Ogun, Bauchi, Kwara, and Ekiti States.

The Vice President said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is fully committed to supporting small businesses across Nigeria.

According to him, “Nigeria, with its expanding MSME sector of close to 40 million, has the potential to lead business innovation beyond Africa. The Skillnovation Programme, therefore, aims to unlock this immense potential. The initiative is designed to provide the necessary tools and skills for our MSMEs to thrive and compete on the global stage.

“As you have witnessed, ladies and gentlemen, the Skillnovation Programme is not a mere promise; it is a resounding commitment to the Nigerian people,” the Vice President added. “It’s in pursuit of this administration’s resolve to empower our youth and MSMEs and to create a more inclusive and prosperous Nigeria. Today, we are translating that commitment into action, and we intend to be your allies in your race to take over the world through your enhanced skills.”

He said the Skillnovation Programme is a significant step towards achieving the Federal Government’s vision of a digitally empowered and economically prosperous Nigeria. By providing MSMEs with the essential digital skills and support they need to succeed, the programme will help to create jobs, boost economic growth, and improve the lives of millions of Nigerians.

Earlier at the event, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs, Mr Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, emphasised the significance of partnership, noting that government alone cannot address the challenges confronting Nigerians.