Nigeria Peace Corps signs MoU pact with UK company for staff training

• begins officer training across the country

As the nation waits for President Muhammadu Buhari to pass the Nigeria Peace Corps Establishment Bill, the organization signed a memorandum of understanding, MoU, with a UK-based ASQ Development and Training Company on Tuesday about commencing training for its staff.

National Corps Commander Prof. Dickson Akoh addressed journalists about the development, stating that ICT instructors from the UK-based company would set up centers in the country’s six geopolitical zones to enable the company to the effective training of the workforce to meet the challenges ahead.

The first part of the program, which focused on digital literacy training, was launched following the adoption of the MOU between the two organisations.

prof. Akor signed on for his organization while Mr. Samson Adeosun endorsed the document on behalf of the UK-based company.

Akor explained that of the more than 187,000 members, consisting of permanent members and volunteers, 15,000 have already signed up for the training.

He pointed out that while the majority of the staff are college-educated in a variety of disciplines, equipping them with digital literacy would undoubtedly adequately prepare them to fulfill their responsibilities in line with the core mandate of the organization.

According to him, “It is important to note that the world is digitizing and the need to equip our members, who are mainly young people, with digital literacy skills cannot be overemphasized.

“However, on our part and as part of building our members’ capacity for robust, effective and efficient service delivery, we have taken some far-reaching steps to adequately prepare our officers and men for challenges pending the final agreement of Mr. President of the Bill for an Act establishing the Nigerian Peace Corps, which will legally support the organization.

“The MoU signed with ASQ Development and Training Company enables the company’s ICT instructors to establish centers in the six geopolitical zones of the country with the aim of training our members in their respective zones.

“As you may know, this organization has a well-structured network of offices in all states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as offices in over 94% of the local government areas in the country with a membership strength of over 187,000, existing of permanent members and volunteers.

READ ALSO: My tenure has enshrined true democratic principles in Nigeria – Buhari

“Most of these are university graduates from different disciplines. Equipping them with digital literacy skills will undoubtedly prepare them sufficiently to fulfill their responsibilities related to our core mandate.

‘However, the ASQ Development and Training Company consultants will subject our members to three-day in-house rigorous and intensive lecture programs in the implementation of the MoU, while the remainder of the training will be conducted virtually.

“Thereafter, the company is expected to provide a web-based training platform for our officers and enlisted men to acquire essential basic information technology skills and certification to enhance human capital development across all professional sectors,” he stressed.

Akoh explained that the training would start nationwide this weekend and that the courses would include Introduction to Computer Information Technology, Introduction to Working with Computers and Devices, Introduction to Working with Software Applications, Introduction to the Internet, Networking and Networking Fundamentals would include and introduction to the cloud.

He added that the training also includes an introduction to computer programming fundamentals, an introduction to data-based fundamentals, an introduction to artificial intelligence fundamentals, and an introduction to robotics.

The National Commander praised the company for identifying with the Corps’ value-driven initiatives, tailored to socio-economic empowerment of the country’s youth.

In his brief remarks, the company’s representative, Mr. Adeosun, assured that the organization would not regret enlisting its services as it would provide the staff with the best service obtained worldwide.