The youths in Nigeria must leverage Internet/broadband access to unleash their potentials for innovation and creativity, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the country’s telecom regulator has said.
Speaking at the presentation of 100 mattresses to the Federal Capital Territory’s Permanent Orientation Camp of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Kubwa, Abuja recently, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, noted that doing so will boost their quest for job opportunities and skills acquisition.
“Access to telecommunication services, especially the Internet, plays a key role in job creation for the youths and ultimately for accelerating economic development. It is critical to the overall socio-economic well-being of every economy and the youth have a greater role to play, as agents of social change, in using the Internet for positive ventures,” Danbatta, who was represented by the Director, Public Affairs, Dr Ikechukwu Adinde said.
Adinde disclosed that the Commission has various youth initiatives and programmes aimed at making youths self-reliant while enhancing their contributions to the economy.
Some of these programmes, according to him are NCC’s toll-free number 622 for consumer complaints resolution, the NCC Do-No-Disturb 2442 Short Code for dealing with unsolicited text messages, the 112 National Emergency Number managed by the Commission’s Emergency Communications Centres (ECC) located across the country.
The presentation of the mattresses was in demonstration of the Commission’s solidarity and corporate social responsibility (CSR) to support the replacement of some of the items carted away from the camp by hoodlums during the EndSARS protests of October 27, 2020.
Meanwhile, NYSC FCT Coordinator, Abdul Suleman, expressed appreciation for the solidary and support showed by the NCC to the NYSC family, especially regarding the welfare of corps members deployed to the Federal capital for the mandatory one year service to the nation.
“I am happy to receive 100 mattresses donated by the NCC, under the leadership of Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, to alleviate the pains inflicted by the miscreants who vandalized the camp. The generosity of the NCC is coming at a time it is most needed, especially with the orientation camp in session,” he said.