Mrs Anyanwu-Akeredolu (middle) in a group photograph with the students. |
By Abiodun Tadese in Akure.
For over three weeks, 100 female students chosen from various public secondary schools in Ondo State have been training on Information Communication Technology (ICT) and various acquisition skills under the Ondo State Girl-Child Summer ICT programme.
The programme, which was sponsored by the wife of Ondo State Governor, Mrs Betty Anyanwu- Akeredolu in collaboration with various private organizations was aimed at empowering your girls on ICT and other various skills acquisitions.
The graduation ceremony of the Summer ICT programme for girls held at the Public Service Training Institute (PSTI), Ilara-mokin, had in attendance the wife of Ondo State Governor, Betty Anyanwu- Akeredolu, wife of the deputy Governor, Ajewole Agboola Ajayi, top government functionaries, representatives of co-sponsors, parents, well wishers and the graduating students.
While delivering her speech, the Ondo State First Lady, Mrs Anyanwu-Akeredolu said she is delighted that the young girls are now digitally empowered and equipped with life enhancing skills.
She said the ICT programme for girls was geared towards solving societal challenges.
According to her, “close to my heart is addressing the problem of lack of teachers especially in rural schools and improving the standard of teaching and learning.
“With ICT, we can develop virtual classrooms all over Nigeria including the remotest villages you can imagine.”
The “Digital Mama” as she is fondly called by the students, thanked the partners of the programme and also called on corporate bodies and well-to-do individuals to ensure the sustainability of the programme as this will help in solving some of the challenges facing the country.
In her address, the keynote speaker, Mrs Funke Opeke (CEO, Main One Cable Company Limited), commended the First Lady for her laudable initiative of empowering the young girls on ICT and skill acquisitions.
She said in this Digital world, there is need to train the younger ones on the usage of ICT in solving societal challenges.
Speaking with THE PRECISION on the sidelines of the event, some graduating students, Olanrewaju Victoria and Omoloju Oluwatunmise thanked the Wife of the Governor for her kind gesture towards empowering the young girls on ICT and entrepreneurial skills.
They noted that aside from ICT, they also learnt some skills like bead making, soap making, craft among others.
Parents of the benefiting students who spoke with THE PRECISION also appreciated the effort of the “Digital Mama” and other partners of the programme, while also urging them to continue the programme so that other students could benefit from such educative programme.
High point of the event, include, goodwill messages by partners, exhibition, cultural display, presentation on awareness of breast cancer by the students, rendition by the ICT girls, presentation of awards among others.
The first lady later presented each student with Certificates and Tablets.
Source: The Precision