Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy Eliud Owalo has called on the youths in TVETs to embrace online platforms that they can use to earn as they learn.
Speaking at the Nyandarua National Polytechnic during the launch of Jitume Digital laboratory and Wi-Fi at the institution, the CS said that the government is geared towards revolutionizing the country using the available digital highways.
According to the CS, the Jitume programme has a two-fold approach with one being the undertaking of digital skilling of the youth while the second being the empowerment of the youths through the digital jobs.
The CS said, the internet has opened vast opportunities for the youths and many are now in gainful employment through the same. “The government is committed to ensuring that each ward in the country has a digital hub to connect the youths to global technology companies.
“The government realized that with a stable and affordable internet most of our youths will be able to work even for some foreign companies remotely. Take the project seriously because it transforms you from a job seeker to an entrepreneur.
“We have trained over 3900 youths and have created 135,000 jobs arguing that the country is on the right trajectory in matters curbing unemployment,” said CS Owalo.
On E-commerce, Owalo said that the government is committed to establishing Wi-Fi hotspots in the markets to ensure there is a great uptake of E-commerce.
Nyandarua Governor Kiarie Badilisha expressed his gratitude saying that the students had embraced the Jitume digital hubs and they are making great use of it.
He said that the Digital hubs will ensure that every youth in Nyandarua will have something meaningful to do despite the unemployment.
The County Director of TVETs, Charles Nyota, lauded the launch of the hub saying that it will be a game changer to the young learners because the online services will amplify their modern ways of earning.
Nyandarua County Commissioner, Abdirisack Jaldesa, said that the country has among the best human resources and the digital labs will enhance more innovations. He urged the youth to shun crime and drug abuse and instead make great use of the Digital labs during their free time.
Present at the launch were the Konza City Technopolis Chairperson John Okwiri and the ICT Authority CEO Stanley Kamanguya.
By Antony Mwangi
