Nigeria’s Ministry of Communications Technology will today launch ‘Microwork for Job Creation In Nigeria – Naijacloud’ with the support of the education ministry’s STEP-B project.
The launch of the job creation scheme was revealed by Efem Nkanga, the special assistant to the minister of communications technology.
According to Nkanga, Naijacloud is meant to lower Nigeria’s unemployment rate and create wealth for the nation’s youths. Through the project, she said the ministry seeks to create awareness on job opportunities available on Microwork and e-Lancing spaces.
“The ministry is tapping into the Microwork opportunity, in line with its mandate to create jobs by taking advantage of fast-growing ICTs in Nigeria in order to reduce youth unemployment, which currently is high at 60 per cent level for youth,” Nkanga said.
She said Naijacloud will also help in tackling the nation’s brain drain and create business opportunities for Nigerian companies on Microwork and ELance. The project will also help the nation in creating a broader workers’ database.
The special media assistant revealed there are two aspects to the Microwork for Job Creation in Nigeria Initiative: Microwork and e-Lancing.
While e-Lancing is meant for skilled professionals, Microwork will assist semi-skilled workers seeking job opportunities.
“The Microwork for job creation – Naijacloud is an initiative targeted at unemployed Nigerians using the technology platform. Unemployed youth with access to phone and internet looking for work are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity,” she said.
She added the ministry will be organising free workshops to drive the initiative. These workshops will be anchored by international companies such as Crowdflower, Elance, ODesk, Mobileworks and Samasource at the Digital Bridge Institute, Oshodi Lagos on March 18 and 19 and Cham’s City, Abuja on March 18.
