Oyo Govt Partners Tech Firms, To Flag Off ICT Training For 1000 Secondary School Students Within Ibadan
Oyo state government has disclosed that plans were already being finalized to enlist no fewer than 1000 senior secondary students drawn from various schools within the 11 local governments in Ibadan.
The Executive Assistant on Administration and Focal Person on Human Capital Development, Reverend Idowu Ogedengbe disclosed this on behalf of the state government at a press briefing on Friday, May 3.
The governor’s aide stated that the initiative was in line with the vision of Governor Seyi Makinde under the Sustainable Development Agenda of Omitutun 2.0 geared towards catching them (teenagers) young and grooming them ahead of the future.
The pilot training program billed to start on the 15th of July will run till the 19th of July 2024, Rev Ogedengbe has stated. He equally stated that the program would extend to geopolitical zones comprising the remaining 22 local governments noting that the pilot phase would enable appraise the success and challenges of the program in the state before extending it to other parts.
He explained that the students would be enlisted on the training based on their nominations from authorities of the various schools to be selected adding that participants have no financial obligation other than to attend the training and participate adequately throughout the program.
“The Office of the Human Capital Development under the Office of the Executive Governor is pleased to announce the collaboration between CodeGarageAfrica, the Oyo State Government, and Zeeh Africa, along with 386konsult Limited, which is aimed at launching a groundbreaking tech program geared towards empowering senior secondary school students in Oyo state with technology skills.
“Under this pilot programme, we will be witnessing an unprecedented event where 1000 senior secondary school students from the 11 local governments in Ibadan will receive specialised training in coding and non-code tech skills. The next phases of the initiative would see us taking the training to the remaining LGAs with a view to ensuring that the impact is widespread and even across all the constituencies in Oyo State,
“This initiative marks a significant milestone in our commitment to providing quality education and preparing our youth for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. CodeGarageAfrica has been at the forefront of promoting digital literacy across Africa, and we are delighted to partner with them in this endeavour with the support of Zeeh Africa and 386konsult, we aim to equip our students with the tech skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in the increasingly digital world.
“The importance of coding or non code tech skills cannot be overstated in today’s society. From driving innovation to solving complex problems, tech skills are a fundamental skill that opens doors to countless opportunities. Introducing coding education to our senior secondary school students, will allow us to lay the foundation for a future where they can excel in technology-driven fields and contribute meaningfully to the development of our state and beyond.
” This program aligns perfectly with, the vision of His Excellency, the Governor of Oyo State, who has always prioritised education and youth empowerment. Through initiatives like this, we are not only investing in the future of our youth but also positioning Oyo State as a hub for innovation and technological advancement.”
Earlier, the representatives and co founder of Zeeh Africa, Mr. David Adeleke stated that plans were already being concluded to commence the pilot phase in Ibadan geopolitical zone adding that the company has also designed a plan to absorb the trainees into an internship where they would be better equipped with necessary skills and tools to explore the tech market for economic gains.
Also, Miss Dolapo Ayeni, co founder and representative of CodeGarageAfrica, in her remarks, said the collaboration for the training was inspired by Governor Makinde’s commitment to human capital development especially in the area of youths empowerment and entrepreneural skills development.