The Taraba State Government, in collaboration with the Algorand Foundation, has trained 100 youths in blockchain technology and software development.
The week-long training program, which began on Monday and concluded on Saturday, introduced the participants to the latest innovations in blockchain technology and equipped them with essential software development skills.
Governor Agbu Kefas, who declared the event open, expressed the state’s commitment to partnering with organizations that can enhance the skills and capacities of its youth, particularly in technological innovations.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Aminu Alkali, the governor highlighted that the collaboration between the state and Algorand Foundation would boost local technological competitiveness and positively impact the state’s and the nation’s economic growth.
He urged the beneficiaries of the program to seize the opportunity to empower themselves with relevant skills that could transform their lives and create new opportunities.
“Our administration is always ready to collaborate with any organization that can enhance the skills of our youth in technological innovations because we cannot afford to be left behind in technological advancement,” he said.
The State Commissioner for Digital Economy and Innovation, Gideon Nonso, who signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the Algorand Foundation, noted that Taraba was the second state in Nigeria, after Plateau, to benefit from this training program.
Nonso described the training as timely and revealed that the state has already set plans in motion to establish a technology village, which would serve as a catalyst for technological advancement.
The Country Head of the Algorand Foundation, Benjamin Onuoha, described blockchain technology as a powerful tool that can be used for various purposes, including decentralized and secure identity management and fast, secure information sharing.
Onuoha also noted that blockchain could help tackle issues such as piracy and counterfeiting by determining the authenticity of goods, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector. It can also be applied in supply chain management to reduce fraud and promote transparency.
Mrs. Adiya Uri, a partner in the initiative, stated that one of the main objectives of the program was to train software developers in the state to create software solutions that would positively impact the economy of both the state and the country.
Uri added that Taraba is poised to become the technology hub of the country, given Governor Kefas’s commitment to youth empowerment and his visionary leadership.
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