We’re leveraging on technology to enhance education, healthcare — Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari, at the weekend said his administration was leveraging on technology to enhance human productivity in education, healthcare as well as ensure job creation for young people and a thriving economy.

The President stated this at the graduation ceremony of Senior Executive Course 41 of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru near Jos. Course 41 is supported by the Development Research and Projects Centre under the partnership for Advocacy in Child and

Family Health.

Daily Trust reports that President Buhari, who was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo described technology as the 4th industrial revolution, adding that, “the first industrial revolution used water and steam power to mechanize production, the second used electric power to create mass production. The third used electronics and information technology to automate production. Now, a fourth industrial revolution is building on the third, the digital revolution that has been occurring since the middle of the last century.”

He said the N-Power Creative as envisioned by the current administration will stimulate the development of creative and technological skills in young Nigerians in a studio environment with 2D and 3D animation, storyboarding, illustration, scriptwriting, voice acting and postproduction skills.

“In its first year, the programme will train 3,000 young Nigerians. 1,500 young Nigerians from the South-West, South-South and SouthEast were in Benin between July and August this year, learning these creative skills. Another 1,500 from the NorthEast,

North-West and North-Central have undertaken a similar exercise,” he said.

“These Asian countries are not only cost competitive, but are also high on quality and availability of skills. India, much like Nigeria can be, has honed its attractiveness as an animation hub because it has an Englishspeaking workforce that come at low costs. From industry reports, the average monthly salary of an animation professional in India is US$600 compared to about US$6,000 in North America. It is this arbitrage that we intend to leverage on,” he said.