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As a way to revolutionalise digital education in the Southwest region of Nigeria, the Odu’a Investment Foundation, which is a social arm of Odu’a Investment Company Limited has formally launched its Digital Education for Innovation and Economic Development (DEFINED) project, on Tuesday, in Lagos.
It has also launched, under the DEFINED portfolio, Byte Busters Coding Clubs for secondary school students across all the 137 local government areas in the region.
Odu’a Investment Company Limited with many companies under its purview, is jointly owned by all the six southwest states namely: Oyo, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Lagos.
Speaking at the launch, the Chairman of Advisory Council of the Foundation, Amb. Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu said the sole objective of the foundation is to birth a new dawn of progress and development in the Southwest states and for the people of the region and the country, by extension.
According to her, the Southwest region has been setting the pace for other regions in the country and it must therefore focus on the formulation and implementation of cutting-edge ideas and programmes that will further impact and more meaningfully, the life of people of the region.
She explained that since a well-trained and properly kitted youth population would not only birth an economically viable society but would also engender the safety of all in this age of digital learning and smart jobs, it then required the need to ensure that they are equipped with the right education and the right skills that would make them relevant and competitive in an increasingly technology-driven world.
She, however, acknowledged some individuals, both at home and in the diaspora for their immense contributions and support towards the growth and development of the foundation.
She particularly mentioned Professor Seun Kolade, a keynote speaker at the event, who is the head of Research at Sheffield Business School, Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom.
According to her, Professor Kolade’s ideas and suggestions not only towards the launch of the DEFINED Project but also towards its future growth and sustainability have been huge and very rich even without him asking for monetary gains.
She also lauded Mr Yanju Adegbite, a renowned broadcaster, who was an events compere at the launch, for his immense and selfless commitment to the initiative.
According to her, Mr Adegbite’s contributions have also be at a zero cost to the foundation.
While also commending the efforts of all the Advisory Council members, the board and management of Odu’a Investment Company Ltd and the staff of the company for their respective contributions and support to drive the foundation and its activities, she promised that the sole objective of the foundation which is for the progress and development of the South West and the well-being of its people would certainly come to fruition.
Amb. Awolowo Dosumu, however, solicited support and close collaboration from all stakeholders, particularly the six owner-states of Odu’a Group, at all levels and particularly at the highest level, as well as tech organisations, among others, on the launched project and other activities of the foundation now and in future, saying for the assignment to be successful required collective efforts.
In their goodwill messages at the event, the governors of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde; and his counterparts from Lagos, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Ondo, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu; and Ekiti, Mr. Abiodun Oyebanji, expressed delight over the vision of the foundation to have come up with the initiative to revolutionalise digital education and innovation in the southwest region.
They said it was a good initiative at the right time.
Speaking separately, for example, the governor of Oyo, Engr. Seyi Makinde, who was represented by the secretary to the Oyo State Government, Prof Olanike Adeyemo, explained that digital education is truly a key to stable career and excellent performance across the field of endeavours.
He said he is particularly impressed that the DEFINED initiative targets school children and young adults in the southwest region, saying the efforts would go a long way in honing their skills and knowledge to become fit-for-purpose learners now and in future.
He noted that the state government had already keyed into digital education for its students across levels so as to make them global citizens, adding that the DEFINED project would certainly further enhance their skills and knowledge in that direction.
On his part, Ekiti governor, Mr Abiodun Oyebanji, represented by the Secretary to the Ekiti State Government, Mrs Habibat Adubiaro, also said the DEFINED initiative is a very laudable one.
According to the governor, digital transformation is now the in-thing and the right key to social economic advancement of any society in this 21st Century economy.
He explained that digital education would greatly help and enhance creativity and innovativeness and also drive productivity and performance among students and youths in the southwest region, even as he promised that the state government would continue to create enabling environment for the thriving of such initiatives in the State.
He said he strongly believes that the DEFINED Project and the other initiatives of the foundation would be the right step to further improve the economy of the southwest region and the life of the people of the region.
In his remarks, the Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Cabinet Office, Mrs Tolani Oshodi, also acknowledged the great role of digital education in the development of society.
He said the Bytes Busters Coding Clubs for the students across the region which is designed amongst others, to empower the students and youths with right digital skills for future impacts is particularly well commendable.
He congratulated the foundation for thinking in the right steps to ensure that the youths in the region irrespective of their backgrounds and where they live are well prepared for the future and be able to stand tall among their peers in the digital space.
He said the initiative is in tandem with the Lagos State’s vision of becoming a smart city in no distant future.
On his part, the governor of Ondo State, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, who was represented by Chief Segun Ojo, who is a member of Board of Directors of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, highlighted the great role being played by digital skills and knowledge in this 21st Century economy, saying it is technology that can really drive meaningful development across sectors of the economy.
According to him, the digital revolution has had a profound impact on economic growth and has impacted various industries, including technology, retail, entertainment, and finance.
“So, the DEFINED initiative by the foundation is a right step at the right time and the state government is expected to benefit immensely from the project,” he noted.
Also speaking, the Ogun State Governor, Dr Dapo Abiodun, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Tokunbo Talabi, also lauded the initiative, saying the project and other activities to be embarked upon by the foundation would further project the Southwest as a pacesetter and its people in the country.
He said this is the era of digital age and technology which has become a veritable driver to socio-economic development of any country must be embraced by all.
Interestingly, aside Professor Seun Kolade, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Digital Transformation at Sheffield Hallam University in the UK, who spoke on “The DEFINED manifesto: Unlocking the future through digital upskilling of youths,” some students from secondary schools also made presentation of their coding projects at the events.
Dignitaries at the event include Pa Ayo Banjo; the Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remoland, Oba Babatude Ajayi; Chief Femi Okunronmu; Chief (Mrs) Onikepo Akande, who is a member of advisory council of the foundation; Dr Olusegun Olugboyegun; Dr Biodun Sobanjo; Dr(Mrs) Victoria Adunola Samson and Mr Aderemi Makanjuola, who are all also members of advisory council.
The Board of Directors of Odua’a Investment Company Limited including Otunba Bimbo, who is the chairman; Mr Adewale Raji, the GMD\CEO; Dr Segun Aina; Chief Segun Ojo, Otunbs Mrs Adebola Osibogun, Mrs Folusho Olaniya, and so forth were also in attendance.
