Digital switchover project will employ 1m youths in three years ― Lai Mohammed

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said that the Digital Switchover in the country is capable of employing 1 million youths in the country for three years.

The minister made this known at the engagement between the Ministerial Task Force on the Digital Switch Over (DSO) and Stakeholders held, on Monday, in Lagos.

He noted that the teeming youths especially will be employed through this project as it is about stimulating local content and empowering platform owners.

While analyzing the job opportunity’s feature of the project, the manufacturing of set up boxes will create 40,000 to 50,000 jobs, with the TV production capable of creating 200,000 jobs.

“The Digital Switchover project is capable of generating 1 million jobs in three years. It is about creating jobs for our teeming population, especially the very creative youth population. It is about stimulating local content and empowering platform owners.

“The manufacturing of Set-Top Boxes or decoders alone is capable of creating between 40 and 50 thousand jobs.

“TV Production can create 200,000 jobs. Film Production can generate 350 to 400,000 jobs.

“Distribution, which entails supplying the market with Set-Top Boxes, TVs and Dongles for the internet, will require at least 100,000 wholesalers, retailers, electricians, installers, marketers and payment solution providers in order to cover the entire country, while TV and Online Advertising can create a further 50,000 jobs.”

The Minister stated that efforts have been taken to create the enabling environment for the DSO to succeed, for local content to thrive, for indigenous producers to be more engaged and for the local advertising market to grow.

Speaking earlier, The Acting Director-General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Armstrong Idachaba explained that the Switch on in Lagos is important as Lagos is the Media Hub of Nigeria.

Armstrong recalled that the Digital Switchover commenced in 2016 with the pilot in Jos and other six states.

“The Switch on in Lagos is very significant because Lagos is unquestionably the Media hub of Nigeria, the most populated city in the country and advertising melting point.

“May I remind you that as a country, we earnestly commenced the DSO in 2016 with the pilot in Jos and subsequent roll out in six states, where the proposition is gaining traction,” He said.

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