U.S. Government Launches Tech Hub to Empower Abuja Youths
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
In a move to boost youth development in Abuja the U.S. government, through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and funding from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), has launched the Federal Capital Territory Adolescents and Young People (FCT AYP) Technology Incubation Hub.
This innovative hub equips young people with valuable technical skills, including robotics, digital marketing, mobile app and web development, photography, and videography.
In addition to tech training, the hub provides vital health education, focusing on HIV prevention and sexual health, and offers support to young people living with HIV to help them stay on their treatment plans.
During the opening ceremony, which marked the graduation of the first 50 participants, Deputy Chief of Mission for the U.S. Embassy, David Greene, said the tech hub is more than a learning center; as it is a safe space for young people to develop skills that will shape their futures adding that the hub’s goal is to foster economic opportunities and groom future leaders.
Deputy Director for Partner Management at U.S. CDC Nigeria, Cole Gbolahan, representing the Acting Country Director, also underscored the hub’s role in both personal and economic empowerment explaining that the initiative provides young people with the skills necessary for the digital economy, opening new doors for growth.
Through this programme, the U.S. CDC and its implementing partner, the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, aim to reduce risks among youth, prevent HIV transmission, and empower HIV-positive individuals.
This comprehensive approach not only equips them with critical skills but also supports a healthier, more successful future for Abuja Youths.