The Osun State Government on Friday commissioned five e-Learning centres in Ikire, Ikirun, Ede, Ilesha and Ila towns of the state in order to make the state an information hub of the country.
The State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Engr Remi Omowaiye, during the inauguration of the Digital Village to be codenamed Osun Coding Academy disclosed that the Digital villages were constructed and equipped by ATC Nigeria with the support of the state government.
Omowaiye said no fewer than 1000 youths in the state would be trained on Information and Communication Technology by the state government in partnership with a firm, America Tower Company (ATC).
The Commisioner revealed that the Digital villages were equipped with computers, power back-up system, internet and other training facilities.
He noted that the 1000 youths in the five major cities would be trained on computer and software programming for them to be self -employed.
He said that five out of nine centres approved by the state government had been built, equipped and handed over to the government by ATC Nigeria at no cost.
He said the E-learning centres would be offering intensive computer and software programming for the youths.
Omowaiye said that the state government was passionate about youth development and empowerment, promising that Digital villages would be extended to other villages and towns with the help of ATC Nigeria.
He lauded ATC Nigeria for the its gesture, saying that the training would assist in reducing youth unemployment in the state.
Earlier, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who was represented by Senator Mudasiru Hussein, the Acting Secretary to the state government, while performing the inauguration, also commended ATC Nigeria for the gesture.
Aregbesola said that the training, aimed at assisting the youths to be self-employed without looking for white collar jobs, was in line with the state government’s desire to make Osun the ICT hub of the country after a successful launch of Opon Imo in 2013.
Mrs Gloria Eyineyie, the ATC Training Centres Project Coordinator, said the company was planning to create Digital villages across Nigeria, and Osun was the first beneficiary of the project.
Eyineyie said that the construction of the Digital villages was part of the social responsibility of the company to the host communities.
Also, Mr Muyideen Salau, ATC Power Solution Specialist, explained that the inauguration of the learning centres was part of the three years celebration of the company in Nigeria. Salau said the company values relationship with its host communities, and the ICT centres were established to train youths for them to be self-reliant and employers of labour.
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