National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), after News Band report and pressure from concerned stakeholders, has finally agreed to award Blockchain scholarship program graduands certificate with names.
Recall that News Band Newspaper on Monday, exclusively reported how angry Nigerian youths tackled National Information Technology Development Agency for issuing them certificates without names after completing a digital skill scholarship program on Blockchain which was organized by the government agency.
NITDA in conjunction with Domineum Blockchain Solutions in 2022 announced the launch of Blockchain Scholarship Scheme. The program was aimed at training 32,000 Nigerian youths on blockchain technology for developing career skills in the emerging technologies.
The scheme was launched on the Blockchain-day of “Digital Nigeria” event held on the 26th October 2022 by Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, the Director General/CEO of NITDA.
The scholarship was to help accelerate Blockchain adoption in Nigeria and make Nigeria a global player in the Blockchain industry.
The scheme had Domineum Blockchain Solutions as the implementing partner and BSV Blockchain Academy as the course content provider.
The program was delivered through a hybrid mode (virtual and physical meetups) in all the states of the federation by the course coordinator and Country CTO of Domineum, Mr Calistus Igwilo
Trouble started when after the completion of the program, NITDA decided to issue the graduates certificates without names, a situation which raised dust among the beneficiary of the program.
Some of the beneficiary of the program accused NITDA of fooling them after spending six months of their precious time on the program.
Meanwhile, Mr Calistus Igwilo, the course coordinator and Country CTO of Domineum, in two different statements on Tuesday morning, confirmed that another round of certificate bearing names of the graduands will be re-issued.
While addressing some of the issues raised by the graduands, Igwilo noted that the blockchain certificates issued for the successful completion of the course have been tokenized as Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) and this means that the certificate is now a unique digital asset that can be moved and stored securely in any compatible digital wallet of graduand choice.
He however, urged the students to use the current certificate until the new one is been sorted out.
Part of the statement reads, “We would like to draw your attention to a recent media publication and comments regarding the blockchain certificates.
“It has come to our attention that there have been concerns raised regarding the lack of names on the blockchain certificates.
“We would like to clarify that the blockchain certificates issued for your successful completion of the course have been tokenized as Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). This means that your certificate is now a unique digital asset that can be moved and stored securely in any compatible digital wallet of your choice. Additionally, this certificate holds value and can be utilized as a valid qualification within the metaverse.
“As graduates of this course, we trust that you are already familiar with the concept of digital signatures and the significance. That’s why its called an emerging technology.
“Note: Your certificate is valid and your token address carry every information about you.
“Dear all, we received feedback from you that you will want your names to appear on the certificates. BSV has agreed to re-issue the certificates to include your names and also correct a typo on the certificate. This may take a little while, but you can use the current certificate until the new one is ready. They are also working on a way you can search your names and confirm your certificates so companies or third parties can also use that
“Thank you for your feedbacks.”