Dr Femi Adeluyi, the National Coordinator, National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), says Nigeria could become a global talent pool because of the quality of talents and skills it exports. Adeluyi said this when the Managing Director, Gallery of Code, Mr Oscar Ekponimo, led a delegation of experts alongside winner, STARTS4AFRICA in Nigeria to pay him a courtesy visit Tuesday in Abuja. STARTS4AFRICA is an initiative that will allow artists to address regional challenges around food and water, digital mapping and speculative landscapes, culture, among other thematic areas. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NATEP was launched by the Federal Government in 2023 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to catalyse job creation by exporting local talents. 'Nigeria has a lot of niche export areas and one of our greatest exports is our talents. 'In the next couple of decades, Africa and Nigeria will become a talent hub because we are getting closer to becoming third largest continent in the world. ' What NATEP is focusing on is to not just jobs inside Nigeria but we are focusing on jobs that are outside the country. 'The idea is to create jobs that can bring in foreign exchange into Nigeria that can strengthen the economy thereby using NATEP to change the Nigerian narrative'', he said. He said that what virtual artist, Jibril Baba, was doing with the sponsorship from STARTS4AFRICA was a welcome development because it could help in strengthening food storage system in Nigeria. 'This is a really good model which can be enhanced and elaborated on. See also SDGs: Nigeria, others call for inclusive global tax system 'What Gallery of Code is doing with the STARTS4AFRICA programme is interesting, I also like the STARTS initiative'', he said. Ekponimo said the visit was meant to bring home one of the three winners from the STARTS4AFRICA challenge and seek inputs and areas of collaboration with NATEP. According to him, the programme, a science, technology and arts-driven initiative, is a dedicated version of STARTS for Africa, an EU-led intervention with the Gallery of Code serving as the umbrella body for the initiative in Nigeria. 'This is the first phase and the first time this is coming up in Africa and a Nigerian has been selected from among 300 applicants. 'Jibril Baba, a visual artist, has just been awarded a grant that will support his project - a smart technology that will address food storage challenges and boost food production in Nigeria . 'We look forward to your mentorship and collaborations and we are open to push further discussions forward on the 'niche areas' that we can leverage on for future stakeholder collaborations. 'Jibril will be showcasing his final exhibition in Nigeria and also Austria. He was selected among the winners to exhibit at an Arts festival in Austria from Sept 4-Sept 8'', he said. Source: News Agency of Nigeria
Related Posts
We’re working to end crude oil theft in Nigeria- Uzodimma
Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo and the Chairman, crude oil theft and management committee, says his committee is working to end crude oil theft in the country, within the shortest possible time.
Uzodimma stated this when he briefed newsmen, shortly after…
HM the King, Commander of the Faithful, to Chair on Saturday Third Religious Lecture of Ramadan
Rabat – His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, may God assist Him, will chair this Saturday, 12 Ramadan 1445 A.H., corresponding to March 23, 2024, at the Royal Palace in Casablanca, the third religious lecture of the holy month of R…
Gold programme: Major milestone in Renewed Hope Agenda- Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu has commended the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development over the first commercial transaction under the National Gold Purchase Programme (NGPP).
The President said this when he received gold bars sourced from artisanal and smal…