The Attah Igala and Chairman of the Kogi State Council of Traditional Rulers, Mathew Alaji Opaluwa Oguche Akpa II, has urged youths to embrace digital skills and pursue legitimate careers in information technology.
The Attah was represented by Ejeh Dekina, Dr Usman Obaje, OON, at the inaugural induction ceremony of the Ajatek Kogi Youth-in-Tech 1.0 Fellows held in Anyigba.
The traditional ruler commended the growing investments in digital technology by community and diaspora organisations, urging government at all levels and well-meaning individuals to intensify support for youth empowerment for a stronger Nigerian future.
He urged young people and communities to embrace digital skills, stressing that digital skills remain critical for relevance in today’s technology-driven global economy.
According to him, youths must position themselves as positive change agents through innovation, discipline, and continuous learning.
He further invoked royal blessings on the graduating cohort sponsored by the Igala Association USA.
Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer of Ajatek Multisolutions and implementing partner of the programme, Anthony James Aliduh, charged the graduating fellows to remain exemplary ambassadors of the initiative, stressing that Kogi youths should be known for innovation and productivity rather than social vices.
He also disclosed plans to expand the “Kogi Youth-in-Tech Collaborative Programme” across the state.
Earlier, President of Igala Association USA, Ms Teresa Edoja, congratulated the 40 participants drawn from nine local government areas in Kogi East who completed the eight-week intensive IT bootcamp.
She noted that the beneficiaries were trained in digital soft skills and provided with laptops and internet routers to support their continued learning.
Edoja urged them to represent the programme positively and promote ethical use of information technology and artificial intelligence globally.
The Public Relations Officer of Igala Association USA, Dr Raphael Agbali, said the initiative is a product of global collaboration between the Igala diaspora, corporate partners including MTN, Ajatek’s technical expertise, and mentorship from professionals of Kogi origin in the global digital ecosystem.
He added that the programme marks the beginning of a broader efforts to position Kogi State at the centre of the global, digital and artificial intelligence economy.
