New Horizons invests N5bn on varsities

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) training institute, New Horizons, would before the end of December this year invest a total sum of N500,000,000 billion (about $5Million) on seven universities.

Chief Executive Officer, New Horizons, Mr. Tim Akano made this disclosure in Lagos and said that the sum will be used to upgrade youth skills in ICT in several universities across the country, including University of Ibadan (UI), Lagos State University (LASU), Babcock, Covenant, Crawford, Crescent, and Lead City Universities.

According to him, the fund will be used in acquiring over 2,000 computer systems, software, and other training facilities in these universities.

Akano also said that New Horizons took the decision to embark on this project with a view of assisting the nation in meeting its “Year 2020 Vision” which is basically geared at making Nigeria one of the top 20 countries in the world.

Nigeria, he said, could only become a world power, if it invests heavily in training the citizenry in the field of ICT, noting that India, China, Malaysia and Costa Rica have taken a similar path and today they are tagged as successful for that critical decision.

Akano expressed the belief that if Nigeria follow a similar path it will achieve its vision of becoming a world power before year 2020, emphasizing that the initiative been pursued by New Horizons will involve training of over 20,000 students on ICT certification-based training starting from this month of September.

“This is by far the largest number of people in the whole world that an ICT training firm will be training at once,” he declared.

Mr. Akano explained the basis of the project and the value it portends for the country, saying that New Horizons is partnering with the universities in order to provide the students with the opportunity of acquiring much needed industry based ICT certification skills that will make it easier for them to get employment in any part of the world; provide them with the skills to become technology entrepreneurs and wealth creators, that is, create, produce and market hardware and software products and services; make it easier for them to integrate should they travel abroad.

“It is also aimed at boosting Nigeria’s earning capacity in a knowledge driven, globalized world thereby bringing about socio-economic development and prosperity,” he said.


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