By Adeola Ogunlade
Covenant University Community Development Impact Initiative Committee (CU-CDIIC), with collaboration with Unites/Cisco Networking Academy has trained 150 youths in Ota, Ogun State in digital and other in-demand skills.
Tagged Ota Youth Empowerment Training featured training in cinematography, Cyber Security, Internet of Things (IoT), IT Essentials & Phone Repairs, Graphics, Python, Solar Panel and Web Design. Some of the participants who distinguished themselves were presented with awards. The Changemaker Award went to Omotola Sunday Akinyeoluwa, while Smart Beyioku and Ireoluwatonde Fasanu were awarded Future Leader Awards.
Speaking at the closing ceremony and certificate award programme of the three weeks of training, the Vice-Chancellor of Covenant University, Professor Abiodun Adebayo charged the youths to take the knowledge and skills imparted to them seriously and take responsibility toward empowering others.
While giving his address at the event, the Vice-Chancellor advised the graduands to maximize the great opportunity the platform provided to start small and build on it. He added that until one starts small today, one may not end up big tomorrow and the knowledge acquired, if not engaged, will fizzle away.
He noted that as a responsible university, the institution was interested in the development of its host community, thereby fulfilling one of the purposes of the establishment of a university; capacity building, which is one of the institution’s core values.
He then concluded by appreciating the CISCO Networking Academy CU-CDIIC, and other sponsors and partners that helped in the establishment of the programme, and prayed that the journey would not end here, but proceed to greater feats.
Speaking in the same vein, the Olota of Ota, HRH, Oba Abdulkabir Obalanlege appealed to the beneficiaries of the training programme to make use of the knowledge acquired, even if they have to work as volunteers to build on the knowledge. He appreciated the efforts of the university, not only for the youths; but for the Ota community as a whole. He promised to employ one of the participants in the Cinematography programme.
In his address, the Managing Director, Unites Cisco, Mr Toyin Olatayo noted that his organisation was involved in the training because of the passion for human development. “The greatest investment in life is investment in human beings. Even though investing in infrastructure is very important, it is the human beings that will drive those infrastructures.”
“All the participants are now leaving this programme as confident, creative creators of new technologies rather than being users only. They will also understand the impact of those technologies on society,” he explained.
Also speaking on the sideline at the event, the Chairperson, CU-CDIIC, Professor Tayo George, who initiated the programme, expressed the importance of digital education to society.
She said, “we know the importance of digital education in our society today and it is one of the things we do in the community development platform of the university. We try as much as possible to reach out to our host community with impactful programmes, and this is one of such laudable programmes.”