By; MOHAMMED KAWU, Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed has said that his administration's technological vision is to transform Bauchi into a dig
By; MOHAMMED KAWU, Bauchi
Governor Bala Mohammed has said that his administration’s technological vision is to transform Bauchi into a digitally inclusive, economically vibrant, and innovation-driven Bauchi State.
The governor explained that the aim of the vision is to harness technology not just as a tool, but as a catalyst for economic diversification, human capital development, and social transformation.
To this end, he said, digital literacy remains the major means of realizing the administration’s socio-economic potential. It is what will empower our youth, strengthen our institutions, and enable our entrepreneurs to compete and succeed on the global stage.
Senator Bala Mohammed who was Tuesday flagging off the State Cyber Nations Programme and DL4ALL Bauchi Initiative, explained that beyond digital literacy, the government will create an army of experts in advanced digital skills through its ambitious but achievable digital literacy initiative.
He stated, “It is gratifying to note that our youths in the State are not known for cybercrimes. We will, in turn, support them in becoming globally certified cyber-security experts, making Bauchi state a mecca of cyber-security and digital literacy”.
“We have converged here today to flag off three (3) important programs that will pilot the state into achieving the aforementioned goals, namely the Digital Literacy and Skills Framework, the Cyber Nations Program, and the Data Protection Policy.
Governor Bala observed that Information Technology is today and in the foreseeable future, the fastest growing industry, and one with increasing capacity to absorb young people with skills, so that everyone can undertake training and acquire skills, and create a sustainable source of livelihood leveraging on its power.
“We are particularly taking bold steps in job creation. Our real objective is not just jobs but productive jobs – jobs that will mean more than just goods and services to consume but to provide antidotes to poverty. That is why economic development and job creation have been at the core of our focus”.
He recalled that the state government has over the last six years invested massively to provide the needed infrastructure to open up the state’s economy, and connect the huge potentials Bauchi have, including the human capital to required markets here and outside.
Mohammed expressed the belief that digital literacy is no longer a privilege, but a fundamental right for every citizen, stressing that one of the strategic pillars of the digital transformation is to empower the youths and civil servants, aimed at transforming them into a globally competitive workforce.
The Governor further explained that the innovative initiative is not just an education program, but an empowerment revolution that will turn the state population into a prosperous society, as well as the provision of foundational digital skills training to over 100,000 Bauchi citizens by 2027.
According to him, the programme would also offer advanced training to 2,000 youths in high-demand fields like software development, cloud computing, and data analytics, among others, and embede digital education in state schools and workforce policies, not leaving behind the vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.
In collaboration with the Canadian Partners, the Bauchi Cyber Nations Training Program is also poised to provide an intensive cyber–security skills development initiative for the youth, as a strategic investment in state human capital where 500 young talents will be trained in various cyber-security roles through the next few years.
These young talents, the governor added, have been placed in various organizations within the country and around the globe to get the required experience and ultimately set-up self-sustaining businesses of their own, under which arrangement the trainees will receive payments, mainly in foreign currency, during the period of their placement.
“This groundbreaking initiative is the first of its kind in Nigeria and the second on the African continent. It is designed to equip our young people with cutting-edge cybersecurity skills and certifications, protect our communities, businesses, and institutions from emerging digital threats.
“It is also to prepare our workforce for a secure and globally connected future, while the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) – Bauchi State Government MoU is the first-of-its-kind collaboration. We are signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, a solemn pledge to safeguard the digital rights of our people”.
Senator Bala Mohammed further stated that through the partnership, Bauchi State commits to ensure full compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act across all its Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, establish a dedicated Data Protection Service Unit to oversee data governance, and build a culture of privacy, trust, and responsible data use across the state.
Earlier, the Chief Operating Officer of Protexxa Incorporated Canada, Bauchi Partners in CyberNations Programme, Mr. Rick Huijbregts revealed that over $10 trn is being spent every year dealing with the impact of cyber attacks globally, with over 2, 200 successful cyber attacks happening daily.
Mr. Rick Huijbregts who assured of delivering a very exciting and handsome cyber security program, said he is highly impressed with the strategy and the desired ambition by Bauchi state to become an ICT hub not for the region, but for the whole African continent.
The Governor further explained that the innovative initiative is not just an education program, but an empowerment revolution that will turn the state population into a prosperous society, as well as the provision of foundational digital skills training to over 100,000 Bauchi citizens by 2027.
According to him, the programme would also offer advanced training to 2,000 youths in high-demand fields like software development, cloud computing, and data analytics, among others, and embede digital education in state schools and workforce policies, not leaving behind the vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.
In collaboration with the Canadian Partners, the Bauchi Cyber Nations Training Program is also poised to provide an intensive cyber–security skills development initiative for the youth, as a strategic investment in state human capital where 500 young talents will be trained in various cyber-security roles through the next few years.
These young talents, the governor added, have been placed in various organizations within the country and around the globe to get the required experience and ultimately set-up self-sustaining businesses of their own, under which arrangement the trainees will receive payments, mainly in foreign currency, during the period of their placement.
“This groundbreaking initiative is the first of its kind in Nigeria and the second on the African continent. It is designed to equip our young people with cutting-edge cybersecurity skills and certifications, protect our communities, businesses, and institutions from emerging digital threats.
“It is also to prepare our workforce for a secure and globally connected future, while the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) – Bauchi State Government MoU is the first-of-its-kind collaboration. We are signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, a solemn pledge to safeguard the digital rights of our people”.
Senator Bala Mohammed further stated that through the partnership, Bauchi State commits to ensure full compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act across all its Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, establish a dedicated Data Protection Service Unit to oversee data governance, and build a culture of privacy, trust, and responsible data use across the state.
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