In line with the THEMES+ Agenda of the current administration to build a 21st Century Economy, while ensuring the inclusiveness of the youths from the rural communities of Lagos State, the Centre for Rural Development (CERUD), has trained some youths from Ikorodu rural division on digital skills to prepare them for the 21st Century challenges.
The one day training, which took place at the Ikorodu Local Government Secretariat recently, exposed the participants to various digital skills such as Niche Carving, Branding, Blog Creation and Online marketing to enable them to advertise their products, services and talents, and to develop their entrepreneurial skills.
In his keynote address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Rural Development, Dr Nurudeen Yekinni Lanre-Agbaje charged the participants to take advantage of the training to maximize the vast opportunities provided by technological innovations and the new media to build a strong brand for their products and services.
He also promised to look into the possibility of getting the approval of the Governor to empower the youths with necessary digital tools in the future, as long as there are positive outcomes from the current exercise.
Mrs Kikelomo Bolarinwa, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, in her own remarks, expressed delight at the fast pace at which the participants were assimilating the new skills while inspecting the practical demonstration of work done on their android phones. She posited further that it was a right decision to bring the maiden edition of the exercise to Ikorodu.
Speaking in a similar vein, the Director, CERUD, Mr Musibau Muyiwa Balogun advised the participants to use the new skills learned to build a unique brand for themselves, while projecting the Lagos brand which is noted for innovation and excellence.
Explaining further, the Creative Director, Ikorodu News Network, Mr Michael Orumamona, the facilitator of the training, said the motive behind the programme is to impart the necessary knowledge and the drive to take their trades and small businesses to loftier heights using the new media to project their talents, products and services to a larger market.
The participants thanked the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and CERUD for their commitment to the advancement of the socioeconomic life of the youths in the rural communities, promising to leverage on the knowledge and skills acquired at the training to improve their business and contribute to the growth of the economy of Lagos State to keep rising.
