CITAD’s ICT incubator opens

THE Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has announced the commencement of its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) business incubator programme.

The programme, which commenced Monday, February 2, 2009 is to take the 16 pioneer youth to the next level in their lives, according to the Executive Director, CITAD, Y. Z. Ya’u.

He disclosed this in a press statement made available to Champion Infotel, saying that the 16-youth were selected from the best of the 300 people who participated last year in the Microsoft cum United States’ Government supported Employability Programme that CITAD and LEAP Africa are implementing in Kano.

He said that the ICT business incubator initiative as conceived by CITAD is aimed at nurturing the young people to become ICT businesses entrepreneurs.

“The Incubator programme consists of three components,” he said, stressing that the first batch is a training programme on ICT entrepreneurship, which would last for three months.

He explained that during the period participants would in addition to deepening their ICT skills, gain training in such skills as website design, video/film editing, ICT equipment maintenance among others.

“They are also to be couched in Small Scale business management and marketing as well as in communication and negotiation skills,” he said.

During this period, Ya’u said participants would be encouraged to sit for relevant professional examinations such as those organized by the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN).

Stressing that at the end of the three months, “they will undergo a 3-month business internship during which they are expected to produce business plans.”

He emphasized that these business plans would be discussed with a team of CITAD business advisers and once agreed upon, his organization would then provide the needed business support on grantorship.

At the end of the business internship, he said, the successful participants are expected to set up their own businesses.

“At this stage CITAD would provide business mentoring support, networking, professional upgrading and virtual office space for the participants,” he said.

Equally, he said that six months preceding the establishment of own businesses, they would be used to incubate and it is expected that at the end of the year the participants would graduate to full business entrepreneurs.

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