Training tomorrow’s leaders on ICT

In line with this the National Centre for Women Development (NCWD) has commenced a two weeks training on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for over 500 children from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.The training which is under the platform of the National Children’s Conference on ICT has the theme: “Developing a […]

In line with this the National Centre for Women Development (NCWD) has commenced a two weeks training on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for over 500 children from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.
The training which is under the platform of the National Children’s Conference on ICT has the theme: “Developing a new generation of software engineers”. The training commenced on Monday 19th and will end on the 30th of this month.
Acting Director-General of the centre, Mallam Abdulmalik Dawuda said the centre annually organizes the children’s computer programme to fully equip them to cope with the emerging technologies globally.
He said this year’s National Children’s conference on ICT aims to give them the opportunity to expand knowledge of technology while they experience a cross-cultural community which would be home away from home.
He said the conference will focus on topics such as Game design, modelling and programming and to accomplish this each participant would receive plenty of personalized instruction and have access to his or her own computer.
He said the children when not in the lab are expected to participate in group activities like team sports, gaming tournaments, talent shows and Abuja City tours.
He urged participants to make good use of the opportunity saying the conference will be residential.
Declaring the training open at the centre yesterday in Abuja, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development , Hajiya Zainab Maina said we now live in a rapidly changing world and must be conscious of the speed of change and the interconnection between many technological development and other changes that are affecting our daily lives which will have profound effect  on the future of our children.
Enumerating the importance of ICT in the life of children, Maina said “ it provides a positive environment that surround young children’s learning, it offers new opportunities that strengthen many aspects of children’s development and there is growing support and interest across the education sector for the development and integration of ICT into education policy and curriculum.”
She said: “I have always believed that technology can have a positive impact on children’s development if properly used. Therefore preparing children for the future use of Information and Technology needs to begin when children are young.”
She said the conference is therefore necessary as we have to use all sources of information, especially the internet to educate the children to ensure that they do not miss the train of this global trend.
The minister said a nation where children miss the train of online connectivity and e-learning is doomed adding, “Reduction of ignorance and relevance of a nation is guaranteed if her children are prepared for life-time learning and are given the enabling environment to be part of information communication technology which is now.”