Foundation to equip 1,000 children with digital skills

The Anibi Omotoyosi Foundation Academy says it aims to equip at least 1,000 children with digital literacy skills before 2030.

The Executive Director of the foundation, Omotoyosi Odufuye, stated this on Wednesday during the official launch of the foundation and the matriculation of 10 students from the foundation’s skill acquisition programme.

The event held at Osungbade, Molete in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Odufuye explained that the motive behind the initiative was to catch the children young and tutor them to achieve their set goals.

She said, “By 2030, we aim to increase digital literacy skills among 1,000 children in Nigeria, because we are training and tutoring them on Joint Admission Matriculation Board. Our NGO focuses on children from birth to 17 years old. So, for this academy, our students should not be above 17 years old; recent secondary school graduates; those who just finished their West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination and are preparing for the university.

“The academy is for a full year; they learn digital skills in the morning, personal development in the afternoon. They go to the e-learning centre because they have access to free Wifi, a free laptop to check opportunities and also hone the skills they have acquired in the morning. After that, there are teachers who will help them in their  UTME tutorial.

“So, after one year, we will obtain the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination form for 10 students and the cut-off mark in our academy is 250. Whoever gets 250 and above will get a free scholarship to the university.”

Odufuye, therefore, urged the participating children to be more focused on their education.

“You can become whatever you want to be if you are determined, focused and committed to yourself. I am committed to myself because I want to be a great woman so as to make a meaningful impact in society, so you too should be committed and dedicated,” she said.

The chairperson of the occasion, Yemisi Olabanji, while cutting the ribbon, urged the parents to see to the welfare of their children.

She said, “This is not the time for Aso ebi. This is not the time of seeing somebody wearing gold and you also want to wear gold. Did you work for that gold? How much is your salary that you want to go and buy gold? Gold will come when you have the money.

“Some of us don’t know the value of what we see here, we don’t know the value of it. Whatever you are seeing here today is to build up your children. As students, make sure you don’t stay behind when you are supposed to be here. Fast, pray and come and learn free of charge. Nobody is taking a dime from you, nobody is asking you to bring anything, just carry yourself and come to class and learn.”

In his keynote address, Samuel Banye, an architect, advised the children to take their education seriously because a lot of benefits awaited them in the near future.