Debbie Mishael Consulting Unveils Int’l Careers IT Programme

The knowledge of ICT in Nigeria seems pretty high, but one of the constraints remains that the knowledge is not essentially backed up with proper matching practical skills and competencies that meet the industry requirements, as well as turning those skills into socio-economic values; Engr. Ifeanyi Frank Ogochukwu, Chief Technology strategist, Debbie Mishael Consulting on the issue.

Engr. Ogochukwu, former Chief Technology Officer with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) spoke on the imperatives of International careers IT programmes been projected by the Consulting firm, saying the initiative directly puts the platform to bridge the apparent gap, intelligently by uniquely enabling disruptions within the IT knowledge, learning, skills and competence space targeted on three levels that will accelerate: IT Education, IT knowledge, skill and expertise, IT Professionalism.

“So, in effect, we shall in our little way create small clusters of knowledgeable, skilled and entrepreneurially minded technology professionals with a global perspective. The International Careers IT Programme is a collaboration between Debbie Mishael Consulting Limited, Nigeria and Institute of Chartered IT Professionals ( ICITP, SA).

“The impact, therefore, is that a new set of value-adding, solution based and business minded technopreneurs will emerge that will enable this economy technologically.

“Nigeria no doubt is a leading country with huge ICT potentials, but the fact remains that we have not been able to harness these potentials optimally because of the huge mismatch or disconnect between the academia and the industry regarding knowledge, skill, and competencies that meet the requirements of the industry,” he said, as his experience over the years in administering technology internship programs informed the whole journey I have.

Engr. Ogochukwu has mentored and coached over 1500 interns from Universities, Polytechnics within and outside Nigeria within a ten year period. “So, I know and understand this disconnect of the academics and the industry on the one hand and the disconnect between technology leaders in organizations and the business they are meant to enable,” he said, adding that unfortunately, technology graduates are not prepared for the industry due to lack of requisite skill and competency to meet the industry requirement or even run their own business.

“They also lack Entrepreneurship and business skills; technology leaders are disconnected from the business and prior learning experience and skill in non-formal environments is also not evaluated and validated”, he said.

On the Level of ICT Knowledge (gap) in Nigeria, he said, “Knowledge without the capacity to translate that knowledge to value for economic and social reasons, therefore, is meaningless. ICT knowledge in Nigeria seems pretty high, but the issue we have is that the knowledge is not essentially backed up with proper matching practical skills and competencies that meet the industry requirements – which is the ability and capacity to solve problems.

“So the very essence of this program is to translate that knowledge to capacity and also capacity to convert that knowledge powered by relevant skills and competencies into economic and social value. So we shall address these known issues holistically in the program. We are addressing the issues on three fronts: young school leavers, fresh graduates/corpers/ final year undergraduates and of course graduates and IT professional”.

He said that the Firm is not just providing training rather forming and changing destinies – creating new mindsets and perspectives.

On the Affordability of these programs and the target audience, he said, “The program fees are very affordable because we are probably the only one entity that has this unique approach to technology knowledge, skill, and competencies. We are preparing people to be strategically positioned to take advantage of the disruptions occurring in our world. Our target audience is primarily youth, women and IT professionals.

“Now the reason is that we needed to go backward to address the observed gaps from SS3, final year undergraduates, graduates, corpers and IT professionals. Those who want to pursue International IT Education, who desire to acquire the necessary skill and competencies and those who are in already in IT professions who want to accelerate their IT career and be globally competitive.

“For secondary leavers – International IT education; corpers, fresh graduates – essential IT skills and competence; and IT professionals who want to accelerate their IT career and be internationally competitive. Information are contained in our website: (www.careersit.org)

Engr. Ogochukwu said that the programmes differ from similar others offered by various organization, saying, “Well, I do agree with you that a lot of organizations are providing training on technology, of course, there is enough technology training out there. However, what we are offering is not just technology training, but we are technology and life skill provider- a blended environment of technology training, innovation, entrepreneurial and business skills and incubation hub mode. Our training modules address all of this- enterprise skills for youths, women and IT professionals.

“Entrepreneurship is a mindset- empowering them in practical terms to use technology to create value. The foundation of unemployment is the fact that school teaches us to be an employee rather than an entrepreneur. That is why we have a teeming population of unemployed youths including many unskilled graduates roaming the streets.

“So our program outcome is to produce globally competitive technopreneurs who can operate in any economy from anywhere. With our program, for example, a developer will now be able to develop an app and also know how to apply the 4p(s) of marketing to create product awareness to prospective clients, and also feasibility studies for the product.

“So essentially we have a holistic approach with our international partners (ICITP) to offer this program that provides you the following opportunities amongst others: acquire a globally accepted IT qualifications and certifications locally here without FOREX issues; highly affordable; examinations are available on Pearson Vue global testing platform; curriculum based on globally accepted National Qualification Framework (NQF); international first year IT Education locally, then subsequently to complete in South African Universities; practical skill and competencies; IT professionals; excellent training facilities; work permit opportunities; international internship opportunities and access to Mentors”.