By Mubarak Aliyu kobi
Bauchi State Government has plans to train 100,000 citizens in basic digital skills and 2,000 youths in advanced areas such as software development, cloud computing, and data analytics by 2027 under the Digital Literacy and Skills Framework.
This initiative was unveiled by Governor Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed as part of three transformative initiatives aimed at equipping citizens with world-class digital skills, creating sustainable jobs, and protecting their digital rights.
Speaking during the official launchen of the Bauchi state Cyber-Nation Program, The Governor described digital literacy as a fundamental right for every citizen, noting that under his My Bauchi Project 2.0, the government is committed to generating productive jobs as a strategic weapon against poverty.
The Bauchi State Data Protection Policy, developed with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), underscores the administration’s pledge to safeguard citizens’ digital rights and ensure full compliance with the national Data Protection Act.
Protexxa’s Country Representative, Abi Hafsat Abubakar, described the initiative as a gateway to over 3.5 million global cybersecurity jobs.
She Explained that The CyberNation Programme, in partnership with Protexxa Inc., is the first of its kind in Nigeria and second in Africa whereby 500 youths will be trained as certified cybersecurity experts with direct pathways to local and international employment, including opportunities to earn foreign currency.
The Director General of the Bauchi State Bureau for ICT, Hayatudden Babama’aji, said the three initiatives form an interconnected strategy to build a secure, inclusive, and globally competitive digital economy.
He Explained that The initiatives launched include the Digital Literacy and Skills Framework, the CyberNation Programme, and the Bauchi State Data Protection Policy, all aimed at boosting digital capabilities in the state.
The launch of these initiatives drew goodwill messages from leaders of major ICT institutions including the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Galaxy Backbone Ltd., Nigerian Communication Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), and Almuhibbah Open University, all pledging strong support for Bauchi’s digital transformation journey.