The National Information Technology Development Agency has commenced a job and wealth creation programme. This programme which is under the close supervision of the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy will cater to the financial needs of 130 farmers, through the provision of N100,000.00 seed fundings.
The agency, National Adopted Village for Smart Agriculture (NAVSA) programme in a statement said, it is in line with the government’s drive to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty, and it will start with seed fundings for 130 farmers in Jigawa state.
The major target of the programme is the adoption of farmers in 774 LGAs across the country. It also aims to open the platform to all agriculture players within the ecosystem. Also, this will facilitate access to local and international markets, as well as reduce the cost of production, access to information, and improve productivity.
What Farmers Should Expect From The Programme
With this new development, farmers expect that this will enhance their mode of operation. More so, it will help build better and sustainable business models and improve their digital footprint in the Industry. Also, it will give them more access to business opportunities that will create not less than 6 million well-paying jobs in the next 10 years. “NAVSA Platform is aimed at digitalizing agriculture to drive the digital economy. This is part of President Buhari’s agenda to leverage technology and innovation to revolutionize the agriculture value chain,” the statement reads.
In addition, the farmers will be empowered with the following at the end of the programme; a digital platform, smart devices (tablets), connectivity for data, and calls.
The programme which will last from July 1 to July 13, will see to the digital agropreneurship skills of farmers. Enrollment with telecom operators and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for identification is also paramount for beneficiaries.
What To Know About The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)
The agency, NITDA is responsible for developing programs that cater to the running of ICT related activities in the country. Also, NITDA mandates the implementation of policy guidelines for driving ICT in Nigeria.
Furthermore, they play an advisory role in copyright law by verification and revision of applicable laws. This is in tandem with the application of software and technology acquisition. Also, the majority of these activities are achieved through the organization of workshops. These workshops cater to the training needs of her staff, government functionaries, and education sectors.
