The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board has trained 160 youths from Kebbi and Zamfara in artificial intelligence and data analytics to boost their digital skills and employment prospects.

Luka Dalang, programme coordinator of RimaFin Consulting, said this on Friday in Kaduna at the end of the five-day training programme.

Mr Dalang said the participants, comprising unemployed youths and National Youth Service Corps members, were trained under NCDMB’s corporate social responsibility initiative.

He said 80 participants from Kebbi and Zamfara benefited from the programme. According to him, the training was designed to expose participants to emerging technologies and prepare them for opportunities in the evolving digital economy.

Mr Dalang said the beneficiaries were introduced to practical applications of AI and data analytics, including data collection, interpretation, decision-making and problem-solving.

He explained that the skills would enable participants to improve their productivity, support businesses and organisations with data-driven solutions, and explore opportunities in the growing digital services sector.

The coordinator added that participants could also apply the knowledge in agriculture, education, healthcare, entrepreneurship and public administration, where data analysis and AI tools are increasingly being used to improve efficiency and service delivery.

Mr Dalang said the initiative was conceived to provide young people with relevant skills while encouraging productive engagement, particularly in communities facing socio-economic challenges.

Mr Dalang said similar programmes would be organised for participants from Yobe and Gombe states in the North-East and Nasarawa in the North-Central zone.

He commended the executive secretary of the board, Felix Ogbe, for supporting initiatives to expand digital literacy and human capital development across the country.