By Michael Oche
The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has commenced a five-day digital skills training for 100 of its members under the NCC-DBI Advanced Digital Empowerment Programme for Tertiary Institutions (ADEPTI).
The training which commenced on Monday in Abuja is aimed at equipping judiciary workers with vital digital tools.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, JUSUN President, Comrade Marwan Mustapha-Adamu, emphasized the union’s commitment to enhancing the capabilities of its members in line with the federal government’s policy to digitalize the judiciary system.
He explained that despite initial fears that automation could lead to job losses, JUSUN viewed this shift as an opportunity for growth.
The training, which runs from October 14 to October 18, will focus on key areas such as Digital Skills, Cyber security, and Emerging Technologies (DiSCET). The initiative, fully sponsored by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), is being delivered by the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), a renowned ICT training institution.
Mustapha-Adamu commended DBI for its partnership and urged other government agencies and labour unions to follow suit, stressing the importance of ICT skills in the evolving workplace.
He also encouraged the participants to fully embrace the training as pioneers of a modernized judicial system that will be more efficient and responsive to the needs of the public.
“At the initial stage, the Federal Government’s policy to automate and digitalize the Judiciary system presented a dilemma for JUSUN members, but the union saw it as an opportunity for growth. The policy posed a serious challenge to our union. We recognized the potential threat of job loss due to digitalization, but we chose to see it as an opportunity to improve the capacity of our members. As a union, who is very committed to our members’ welfare, we assured them that we would provide the necessary training to stay relevant in the digital age.
“This training program is our response to that commitment. We are investing in our members’ future, equipping them with the skills to thrive in a digitalized Judiciary system. I am confident that this initiative will not only enhance our members’ job security but also improve the overall efficiency of our Judiciary system.”
Also speaking, President/ CEO of the DBI, David Deser said the training will help the judiciary workers with a wide awareness of digital concepts.
Represented by Viola Askia Usoro, the head of Corporate Services, the CEO said with the changing world of work, there is need for the Judiciary system to follow the trend.