In a bid to foster digital inclusion, the Sparkle Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to helping children live healthy, access education and work towards achieving their full potential, has donated a Solar-Powered Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Center to Wesley School I &2 and AUD Primary school, Oko Sagamu, Ogun State.
Speaking at the commissioning of the ICT Center on Monday, the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, who was represented by his deputy, Engr. Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele, expressed her delight at the foundation’s generous contribution. She emphasized the importance of digital literacy and access to technology, particularly at the primary school level, as a means to prepare students for a successful future.
She said, “Technology has become essential to driving innovation, progress, and development. The Sparkle Foundation has recognized this need and has taken this task of bridging the digital divide in this community. This state-of-the-art ICT center is a testament to Sparkle Foundation’s mission towards ensuring quality education and their unwavering belief in empowering our children to unleash their potential and become active participants in the global digital revolution.”
The deputy governor said that the ICT center would help students and teachers to maximize the value of quality education in information and technology in the fast-paced digital world.
“At the most basic level, being able to navigate around a computer is an essential skill for today’s Nigerian youth; thus students need to be comfortable and able to use technology not just for more effective learning but so they are able to stand alongside their peers globally in the twenty-first century,” she noted.
In her address, the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Sparkle Foundation, Mrs. Olasimbo Ibijoke Ojuroye said the newly inaugurated ICT Centre with twenty computer sets promises to be a game-changer for the students, providing free access to technology and online resources for education and skill development.
To ensure smooth operation of the facility, the CEO noted that a well designed timetable has been designed to accommodate the three schools, adding that a tutor would be in charge of teaching the students on the use of ICT.
According to her, the gesture is aimed at bridging the digital divide in the community and empowering the students with essential digital skills. “In particular, we recognize the importance of ICT literacy programmes for children from an early age.
She expressed her enthusiasm during the grand opening ceremony. She said, “Access to technology and digital literacy are crucial in today’s world. By establishing this Solar-Powered ICT Centre in Sagamu, we hope to give our community the tools they need to thrive in the digital age.” The facility’s solar power system is a sustainable choice, ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply even in underserved communities.
Speaking on the foundation’s motivation for establishing a solar-powered ICT center at the school, the CEO explained that they identified a digital technology gap and felt a need to address and close this gap.
“We believe that ICT is not a luxury but a necessity for the children in this community. It is a powerful tool that can level the playing field, bridge the gap and create opportunities that are unimaginable.”
“This prompted us to donate a ICT center, which we hope will bridge the connectivity gap and build a tech-savvy young generation who will take advantage of this technology towards the development of the Sagamu area of the state.”
“We are delighted to unveil the ICT centre as we believe that access to technology is a key driver of social and economic progress.”
She said the facility was in line with the foundation’s commitment to fostering innovation and empowering children with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in the digital age.
“The ICT center will serve as a hub for the students, professionals, and entrepreneurs seeking to expand their expertise in a conducive environment.
In his own remarks, the Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board Chairman, Dr. Femi Majekodunmi, who was represented by the board’s secretary, Mr. Adebola Lawal commended the kind gesture of the Foundation towards creating access into the future of education by exploring knowledge through internet and communication technology.
“The initiative will turn around the pedagogical skills of the teachers to ensure these children learn in a very good environment that will stimulate good teaching and learning in this noble school.
“I am sure this facility you have provided will be put to a very good use because it is one of the tools when we talk of instructional technology, a good teacher going to the class must think of instructional aids to use, automatically you are proving one among several needs of the school,” he said.
The Aminisan of Oko Sagamu, HRM Oba Gabriel Babatunde Adekunle Odunayo, thanked Sparkle Foundation for giving back to society, urging other well-meaning people from the community to emulate them.
“It’s important to highlight that in the future, illiteracy won’t be defined by the inability to read and write but by the incapacity to operate and navigate computers,” he said.
In his goodwill message, the Executive Chairman of Sagamu Local Government, Hon. Afolabi Odulate described the initiative as a timely intervention and promised that “the students will properly utilize the facility.”
Odulate stressed that the new development would contribute positively to achieve an efficient and effective Information Technology-driven economy for sustainable development.
credit; PM News
