By Leonard Okachie
The Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) in Abia has built the capacity of its staffers and local government desk officers on basic ICT tools and artificial intelligence (AI) applications.
The technical session, held in Umuahia, brought together the State Project Coordinating Office (SPCO) staffers and desk officers from the 10 local government areas (LGAs) where the project is being implemented, to enhance efficiency and project delivery.
Participants were trained on practical modules including basic application of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel, fundamentals of project reporting, professional e-mail usage, and Zoom for virtual meetings.
Notably, they were also introduced to the use of ChatGPT for work and reporting, with emphasis on the dos and don’ts of applying AI tools in an official setting.
The training featured live demonstrations using real LIFE-ND tasks to ensure hands-on learning.
The Resource Person and ICT Specialist for LIFE-ND, Mr Joshua Chibueze, said the training was designed to sharpen participants’ skills, especially in report and memo writing.
He noted that many staff submit reports and memos late due to limited digital knowledge.
“MS Word is a very important tool in reporting. So we went through the basics and important things needed for reporting, especially when using MS Word.
We also talked about reporting structure, the method of perfect reporting and what you can do to ensure that your reporting is perfect,” Chibueze said.
He added that participants were taught PowerPoint, simple digital applications, and file transfer methods — including Bluetooth — to move documents from phones to computers without glitches.
Chibueze, who disclosed that he is pursuing a PhD programme in AI, said participants were also trained on effective prompting to get accurate results when using AI tools.
He commended the state and national leadership of LIFE-ND for organising the training, and lauded Gov. Alex Otti for his support and the ongoing digital transformation in Abia.
The Finance Officer, LIFE-ND Abia, Mrs Loveth Okpata-Samuel described the programme as impactful.
“The training will help in facilitating LIFE-ND activities so that we will not be running behind schedule.
With the knowledge we gained today, most of us who have been finding it difficult to write our reports will not have such challenges again,” she said.
Also speaking, Mrs Doris Otti, the Desk Officer for Aba South LGA, said the training will enhance her job performance, especially in “creating memos and preparing our reports.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that LIFE-ND is an initiative of the Federal Government, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the Niger Delta Development Commission.
The initiative targets poverty reduction, job creation, sustainable income, and food sufficiency in the nine Niger Delta states.
(NAN)
