Paradigm Initiative launches the first cycle of a six-week L.I.F.E (Life Skills, ICTs, Financial Literacy, and Entrepreneurship) training program for the year 2021. LIFE training is a free program aimed at enhancing ICT and entrepreneurial skills among youth living in under-served communities and lacking access to tertiary education due to poverty. The training program starting on February 22, 2021, will be witnessing a major shift from in-person training at our various centers in Aba, Ajegunle, Dakata, to a completely virtual session this year.
Upon completing LIFE training, the trained youth are matched with companies to complete internships, trained and supported to begin online work (freelancing), or supported to pursue their entrepreneurial ideas. This enables them to improve their livelihoods and become active citizens.
Gabreal Odunsi is The Program Officer, Digital Inclusion at Paradigm Initiative, who answers some pertinent questions about LIFE training program 2021.
Why the needs for ICT training in 2021 and for how long will this training run?
COVID-19 global pandemic has changed the world’s reality. Numerous organizations are moving their work online for a sustainable future; this has led to an increase in demand for digital skills in workplaces worldwide. Therefore, ICT skills are needed to be more productive and employable. The LIFE training will be mostly virtual this year, due to the pandemic.
Who can attend and is there a registration fee and a course fee?
The L.I.F.E training program is open to any young person between the ages of 15 – 28, who has graduated from secondary/high school and is enthusiastically passionate about learning these skills and willing to connect with opportunities in the digital economy in order to better their livelihood. The training is 100% FREE.
How will the training be conducted given its virtual nature?
The program will be conducted using a virtual learning platform to deliver the lessons. We will upload the platform with resources and course activities. Also, the student will be evaluated at different stages of the training program.
We understand this program has been going on for some time now, can you tell us how successful it has been over the years?
Between 2016 and 2020, the program has trained 1119 young people in underserved communities across three states in Nigeria with 469 engaged through apprenticeship programs, job placements, running businesses, and internship programs. We are particularly impressed by the interest many young people are showing towards the program and because we know inculcating these life-changing skills in these youth will go a long way to make them sustainable.