By Ademola Orunbon
Ogun State Bureau of Information Technology (BIT), in partnership with International Telecommunications Union (ITU), an Agency under United Nations has commenced training for 80 girls selected from 40 public and private primary and secondary schools within Abeokuta, towards raising the standard of education in Information and Communication Technology.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Information Communications and Technology, Mr. Dayo Abiodun while declaring open a four-day training for the pupils and students at Ogun Tech Hub, Kobape Abeokuta, stated that the training was organised to commemorate the year 2022 International Girls Day in ICT, tagged “Access and Safety”.
Abiodun, in a statement signed by BIT’s Information Officer, Mrs. Olayinka Ezema, noted that the training was imperative to ensure that girls and young women thrive in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and ICT careers, thereby giving them the necessary impetus to compete in the world of technology, while improving their socio-economic status.
“The world is digitalised and we must encourage our young females to participate actively in the development of ICT in the State, to empower themselves, and contribute to the socio-economic growth of the State. This is our focus and we will not relent as a government to bring this to realisation”, he said
According to him, the training would inspire the female child to venture into the field of Information Technology through learning basic programming blocks, Web development, and digital electronics to girls between the age brackets of seven and 15 from 40 schools within Abeokuta as a pilot scheme.
Speaking, the Special Assistant, ICT, Mr. Olakunle Akibola said the State government would not relent at exposing youth especially, girl-child to digital knowledge which is beneficial to the economic growth of the State, saying the training was a learning curve in building the capacity of young females and preparing them for their various future career.
In her contribution, the Director, Standard Regulations, Planning and Statistics, Mrs. Olatundun Adekunte advised them to be focused during the training period to gain the required knowledge on digital literacy, which would help proffer solutions to challenges experienced in their day-to-day activities.
In their separate remarks, Participants from Ilugun High School, Abeokuta and African Church Grammar School, Bose Sotayo, and Precious Osho respectively lauded the State government for availing them the opportunity to partake in the training, saying it is a lifetime opportunity that would be optimally utilised in their future career.