The Government of Plateau State has applauded Zeustech, an indigenous Tech Company for initiating an ICT training initiative which has targeted women for training and empowerment in the use of Artificial Intelligence to ensure that they meet up with contemporary global realities. The government has also announced plans to train another 5,000 women in ICT/AI.
This was disclosed by the Honorable Commissioners of Science, Technology and Innovation and that of Women Affairs and Social Development Prof (Assoc) Goselle Obed Najul and Hon Caroline Panglang Dafur respectively when they attended the official launch of JUMM.AI by Zuestech in collaboration with other partners on Tuesday 14th May 2024 in Jos.
Speaking to Journalists shortly after the event, the Honourable Commissioner Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Plateau State Prof (Assoc) Obed Gossele Nanjul said the initiative “…stems from the understanding that there is need to equip women, and especially the younger generation, to get to the understanding of the operations of Artificial Intelligence. And what the program has been able to identify is that it has been able to queue into the vision and mission of His Excellency, Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, who from the onset of his administration had this conviction.”
“There’s need to empower women, there’s need to also leverage on technology to be able to develop every facet of the seven point agenda he itemized. So with Zeustech company, in conjunction with their partners, putting up a program and winning a grant from Microsoft.org, it is more of a beautiful initiative that has not only elevated the standing of plateau State but also that of Nigeria, because I understand that it is the only company that has won that particular grant in Africa.” he added.
On her part the Honorable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon Caroline Panglang Dafur said that the initiative was timely and will bring a lot of positives for the development of women to compete favourably in today ICT/AI world.
“This training is going to bring a lot on the table. I want to first of all, appreciate GIEVA and Zeustech for this wonderful initiative, for being particular about training women.”
“And this is going to bring a lot to them because it’s going to help them with their businesses. Like I said earlier, the world is revolving around technology and we can’t afford to be left behind. Plateau women have to key into it, just like His Excellency Barrister Caleb Mutfwang has keyed into this initiative. We’ve already captured it in our budget and in our work documents that we’re going to train up to 5000 women and young girls in tech.”
“And so we want to appreciate them for this wonderful initiative and to also encourage them to keep it up. And in the coming weeks, by the grace of God, we’re going to start unveiling our own trainings for women and girls in tech.”
CEO of Zeustech, Mr Timothy Dakey explained the vision of his company and the motivation for targeting the training of women in Plateau State. In his own words he said “We are about software development and also software training. And then we are the winner for the generative AI challenge by Microsoft and data.org”
“What we do in this tech company is training people, especially in this case for the generative AI grant, we want to train women to leverage on the use of artificial intelligence and to be able to improve their businesses. You know, we discovered that the trend in technology is advancing, but the adoption in Africa, especially in northern Nigeria, and in particular plateau state is very slow. So that’s why we came in to train these women on the use of AI to promote their businesses.”
“And as they have just testified during our grand opening for the badge one, a lot of these women have started applying the use of AI tools to be able to improve their businesses in terms of populating content on their social media handles, creating their social media presence, and then taking advantage of digital marketing to take their products not just in Jos but from jos to the rest of the world, leveraging the power of artificial intelligence and also the social media platforms.”
While commenting on the choice of Plateau and particularly women for the training, Mr Dakey said “…we have a presence here because I am also from Plateau State. So this is a way to give back to my state and to also support the mandate and the agenda of the Governor, His Excellency Governor Mutfwang Caleb, who has always put it on top of his agenda to adopt e-Governance in Plateau State and what other better way for him to do it than will include women.”
“Because we discovered that women have been historically marginalized in northern Nigeria and including them in the government and then e-governance and also helping them to be inclusive in the digital economy is the way to go…and then I want the women here to benefit from it. And then we believe that once we boom or once we make the women of Plateau State to succeed digitally, then it will reflect in the IGR of the state, even by them paying taxes and then new business coming up in the state. So yes, that’s why we chose Plateau first”.
Some of the participants expressed gratitude to Zeustech for the initiative and that so far, the knowledge gained will be put into use in their business going forward.
The seven point agenda of the Governor is well commendable, the women ict/ai training coming up in the State is a welcome idea and quite commendable. It is now that we know that there were capable leaders on ground that will change the face of the State. We want to be seing more projects so that Plateau will look green. Infact i have never seen a government that achieved what Mr. Governor has achieved under one year on the Plateau. I pray for God divine favour, guidance and protection upon the Governor and his team to keep on the good work so that the dignity of the State be restored.
I want to say a big thank you to zeustech for the initiative for the training given to us. The sky can only be our starting point.
Great initiative there . We are praying for outpouring of the Lord’s grace and wisdom upon our Leaders In Jesus name.
Amen