...as Oyebanji, Others Hail Initiative
A former House of Representatives member for Ekiti North Federal Constituency 1 in the 9th National Assembly, Hon. Ibrahim Olarewaju has donated new laptops and cash gifts to youths and teachers in Ekiti State.
No fewer than 200 Ekiti people, comprising 100 youths, 70 teachers and 30 others, on Friday participated in an empowerment training on data management and computer application, sponsored by the former reps member, who doubles as the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Parliamentary Affairs (House of Representatives).
The programme which attracted participants across the state took place at Moba Local Government Secretariat, Otun Ekiti.
The participants, who were taking through the rudiments of data privacy, identify theft and other data security techniques, were also gifted a new laptop each and cash gifts to equip them and enhance the training.
Speaking at the event, Hon. Olarewaju, said his decision to facilitate the training, which targeted youths, women and teachers was to prepare the participants for the 24 century work place.
He urged the participants to see the laptops as an enabler and tools for transformation.
He said the initiative was in line with the vision of President Tinubu and Governor Biodun Oyebanji, who have both indicated their passions to engage and empower the youths to be productive.
He said, “The future of Ekiti and Nigeria economy at large is in technology and the future is now. Knowing well the place of digital in emerging technological world, these laptops and importantly, the training given today are necessary to equip our youths, women and teachers to become self reliant and fit in to the future workplace.
“What I’m doing here today are in line with the renewed hope initiative of Tinubu administration, which our amiable governor in Ekiti has keyed into. No doubt, today’s intervention will positively impact our people and prepare them for the global current digital revolution,”
Also speaking at the event, Ekiti State Commissioner for Youths Development, Hon. Gold Adedayo, who delivered a goodwill message on behalf of Governor Oyebanji said the governor was impressed with the training and sent his good wishes to both the initiator and the participants.
The commissioner added that what Hon. Olarewaju did was a life-long opportunity for the participants to change their worlds.
“What Hon. Olarewaju has demonstrated today with the training and the laptops has further stood him out as a serious-minded politician who believes in pragmatic approach to leadership.
“With this, Hon. Olarewaju is telling the participants to go out there and conquer the world because what the participants have learnt is the future and the future is now. Mr. Governor believes so much in youth and women empowerment and that’s why he’s so happy with this initiative by Hon. Olarewaju.
“I hereby call on the participants to see this as an opportunity to excell and make a difference in life. Obviously, in today’s work place, there’s no work that can be done without having computer knowledge.”
A special guest of honour at the programme, Alhaji Dauda Lawal, (Adl), who described the program as a ‘pathway to success’ called on participants to rise up and explore the world with the knowledge provided.
According to Adl, “What Hon. Olarewaju did today has shown that he’s determined to show his constituents how to fish and not to give them fish. While I’m commending our Honourable for this, I’m charging the participants to see this as equipment to explore the world.”
A participant from Ijero, Ayodele Alofe, said even though he is computer literate, what he leant about data privacy and security has opened his eyes to fresh knowledge and opportunities in the digital world.
“Data Privacy and Protection has opened my eyes to understanding how to protect my data against breaches from any where, the training is indeed an eye opener for me and would love to extend the experience to learning more in the nearest future.”
Another participant, Mrs. Taiwo Bamigbola from Ekiti West said the training had prepared her better as a teacher, not only to teach her pupils but to look for opportunities beyond her immediate environment through digital knowledge acquisition.