Vice President Kashim Shettima, on Tuesday in the Presidential Villa in Abuja, hosted several Google executives.
Shettima also lauded the N1.2bn grant provided by the technology giant for the support of the “Tinubu administration’s one million jobs initiative.”
The Vice President deemed the grant announcement to be respectable and deserving of imitation by other businesses.
“Let’s think outside the box and create more job opportunities. We need to walk the talk. It is easy to pontificate but very difficult to bring all the ideas to fruition. I want to assure you, this administration is ready to partner with you.
“Nigeria is ready for business. The President that we have now wants to leave a legacy that Nigerians will be proud of many years after,” the VP explained.
Shettima remarked, “We have a unique opportunity to harness the potential of our huge youth population to create millions of jobs in the digital sector.” Shettima was speaking about the youth population of Nigeria.
“We have more English-speaking people than many countries in Africa and beyond. We missed the agricultural age; we missed the industrial age, and we are now in the knowledge-driven post-industrial age. We have the potential and a unique opportunity to fill the anticipated global talent deficit.
“Access Bank is doing a lot in terms of digital skills, training 1,000 youths in digital skills to create employment opportunities. We are working with Wema Bank, the Bank of Industry, and other partners on this project. We are willing to partner with Google; we will work closely with you for the good of our nation,” he added.
Google West Africa Director Mr. Olumide Balogun had earlier stated that the business was enthusiastic about the Tinubu-led administration’s goal of generating one million digital employment and that it was investing over N1.2 billion in grants to assist the program.
To enhance their lives and help multiple firms flourish and generate thousands of new employment in the industry, he said that the corporation will give digital skills to over 20,000 adolescents and women through the initiative.
Charles Murito, Google Africa’s Director of Government Relations and Public Policy, said the business remained dedicated to investing in digital infrastructure across Africa and noted that the targeted technology employment may be stimulated by the continent’s digital revolution.