United States Government Exchange Alumni Association (USGEAA), Rivers chapter, in partnership with Rivers ICT Department, has empowered 21 girls with digital skills in Port-Harcourt.
Newsmen reports that the digital skills training project was funded by the US Mission in Nigeria and implemented by the state chapter of USGEAA.
The recipients of the empowerment went through a six-week training to acquire various digital skills, including front-end web development, digital marketing, digital lifestyle, graphic design and more.
Speaking at the occasion, President of the association, Prof. Edward Ezedike, expressed gratitude to the U.S. Mission for believing in the association’s capability to deliver on the project.
Ezedike appealed to the state government to support the project in future.
He advised the beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity given to them by ensuring that it translated into financial uplift for them and their love ones.
Also, the General Secretary of the association, Dr Kingdom Nwanyanwu, advised the beneficiaries to leverage the project to change the narrative in the Niger-Delta.
He encouraged them to develop themselves so as to have a competitive advantage in the face of numerous, yet highly competitive, international opportunities.
On her part, the association’s Vice-President, Prof. Ijeoma Vincent-Akpu, called on the girls to remain focused, distinguish themselves and always strive for excellence, as they had so much to offer.
The Head, Technical and Operations, ICT Department in Rivers, Mr Austin Dimkpa, congratulated the girls and their families, even as he expressed satisfaction with their conduct and commitment throughout the duration of the training.
Dimkpa also thanked USGEAA in the state and called for future collaborative engagements for the benefits of the youth.
Highlight of the graduation ceremony was presentation of certificates to the participants by Prof. Femi Shaka, symbolising the official completion of the programme.
Newsmen reports that the presentation of laptops as starter pack to 10 selected participants was done by Emeritus Prof. Simeon Achinewhu, a former Vice-Chancellor of Rivers State University, Port-Harcourt.
Speaking on behalf of the graduands, Miss Anita Kpobari, the overall best graduate, expressed gratitude to the organisers and shared their aspirations for the future, demonstrating the impact of the project on their lives.
Some of the parents and guardians of the beneficiaries expressed appreciation to USGEAA and the U.S. Mission in Nigeria for the opportunity given to their girls.
USGEAA is an umbrella body of all Nigerian recipients of the United States Government-sponsored exchange programmes.
The body serves as a rallying point for accomplished academics and technocrats, and also provides a viable platform for harnessing their resourcefulness for a more virile society, in partnership with the United States Embassy and the Consulate in Nigeria.
