Ekiti launches Innovation Grant, targets 10,000 digital jobs for youth

Ekiti State government on Wednesday launched Innovation Grant Facility that will upscale digital skills and generate at least 10,000 employment for young people in the state.

The World Bank sponsored project was launched in Ado Ekiti, the state capital by Governor Biodun Oyebanji.

The governor said the initiative will contribute to the state’s economic output, improve tax revenue and enhance innovation and creativity.

Speaking at the event which had in attendance the Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye, representative of the World Bank and senior government officials, Governor Oyebanji said: “In line with our development agenda of collaborating with development partners to contribute to our state’s economic output, I launched the Innovation Grant Facility in Ekiti State to enhance innovation and creativity through advanced digital skills and digital entrepreneurship.

“The initiative is a World Bank Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS).

“Ekiti State is a beneficiary of this groundbreaking project aimed at digital advancement through investment in technical education and informal apprenticeship to create market-fit Digital Professionals and Digital Entrepreneurs.

“The project will create about 10,000 jobs for Ekiti State’s youth, which will substantially impact the average youth’s per capita income. It will equally boost the IGR of the State as trained professionals will start practising and therefore be caught by the tax net of the State.”