Wema Bank set machinery in motion to begin the second phase of the FGN-ALAT Digital Skillnovation Programme in second quarter.
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As Cohort 2 begins in the second quarter of 2024, the FGN-ALAT Digital Skillnovation Programme is officially transitioning to physical training sessions and the curriculum will cover key digital skills including software engineering, product management, business analysis, cloud computing and product design, among others.
Wema Bank’s Executive Director of Retail and Digital Business, Tunde Mabawonku, emphasised the pivotal role of the FGN-ALAT Digital Skillnovation Programme in bridging the gaps in Nigeria’s macroeconomic landscape towards national development.
Since the launch of the first Cohort of the FGN-ALAT Digital Skillnovation Programme in 2023, over 300,000 Nigerian Youth and Business Owners have leveraged the platform as a launchpad for their business and career success.
This unique Cohort featured 100 per cent virtual learning sessions through which participants from the 36 states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, were provided with self-paced online learning experiences.
While further justifying the launch of the second phase, Mabawonku said it is part of the bank’s unwavering commitment to supporting MSMEs and with the FGN-ALAT Digital Skillnovation Programme. “It’s all about the bigger picture—which is why we have partnered with the federal government to augment the scale of this programme’s impact.
“By tailoring this programme to suit the needs of both entrepreneurial minded and professionally inclined Nigerians, we are not just arming SMEs for more efficient business management and growth, we are also equipping Nigeria’s workforce for increased productivity and the ripple effect will not only create more viable employment opportunities for Nigerians towards reduced unemployment and underemployment rates, but further drive economic growth and national development, boosting Nigeria’s position on the global playing field,” he said.
Pressed further, Mabawonku noted that, “The digital evolution is moving sporadically and by empowering our youth and MSMEs with in-demand digital skills, we are ensuring that Nigeria is not left behind as the world evolves.
Pressed further, Mabawonku noted that, “The digital evolution is moving sporadically and by empowering our youth and MSMEs with in-demand digital skills, we are ensuring that Nigeria is not left behind as the world evolves.
“Beyond the intellectual resources and other non-monetary opportunities, we are going a step further to provide financial support for these participants in form of millions of Naira in equity capital, soft loans and grants, to enable them put their learnings to practice and build sustainable streams of income that could help them become employers in their own right.
Echoing similar sentiments, Mariam Isah, a beneficiary of Cohort 1, said, “It’s almost unbelievable all I’ve learnt in just this 1-month virtual training. I started this training simply looking for a way forward for my business but I have unlocked secrets that are life changing not just in my business but in all aspects of life. I am so grateful for this rare opportunity, and I can’t wait to be a part of Cohort 2.”
This phase of the programme will be executed via FGN-ALAT Digital Hubs, which will be set up in the different states across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria to ensure that every Nigerian can access the programme’s full benefits regardless of their location.
These hubs will be equipped with cutting-edge training and incubation facilities ideal for advanced and ultra-modern digital-driven learning, giving participants the opportunity to acquire marketable and transferrable digital skills in state-of-the-art learning spaces within their reach, and gain a competitive edge in the global digital ecosystem.
(Nation)