Govt Targets 28,000 Girls for Digital Skills Training

In its efforts aimed at equipping girls with sought-after digital skills for future readiness, Kwara State Government has flagged off a digital literacy training targeting over 28,000 adolescent girls, in 70 public secondary schools, across the three senatorial districts of the state.

The training was organized by Kwara State Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, in collaboration with the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project, tagged "Digital Literacy Skills Programme, for Educators And Secondary School Girls." 

Declaring open the 5-Day workshop held at Bovina View Hotels, the State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Sa'adatu Modibbo Kawu, noted that "AGILE project is one of the special initiatives of our Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (CON), in the education sector."

The Commissioner who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Mrs Rebecca Bake Olanrewaju, submitted that the Project "is an expression of Governor AbdulRazaq led administration's passion for education in the state, particularly our adolescent girls who have been at a disadvantage, secondary education wise.

 "AGILE Project is therefore designed for the construction of some structures, renovation of the existing blocks in our schools, provision of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities and provision of schools learning materials."

The Commissioner stressed further that, "it is necessary to inform you that the primary motive of the AGILE Project is to improve secondary education of our girls, with special attention on the adolescent girls. 

"As a result of this, Life Skills and Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) are introduced as Sub-Components where only female students will be trained on health, reproductive and emotional development, to navigate to adulthood as well as cash flow, for extremely disadvantaged female learners, in secondary schools." She said. 

In the same vein, Modibbo Kawu added that, above submission are the motivational measures put in place, to ensure adolescent girls complete secondary education, adding that, "Digital Skills will make our students relevant in the society. This will not only keep them up to date in the scheme of things, but also create employment opportunities for them, at the completion of their secondary education."

Earlier, the Project Coordinator, Kwara AGILE project,  Mr. Adeshina Salami commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for facilitating the project to Kwara State, describing it as  "a great opportunity to equip adolescent girls in the State, with relevant digital skills, that will make them excel in the competitive labour market."

Salami informed the gathering that, "this project is a project of the Federal Ministry of Education, with support from the World Bank, geared towards improving secondary education opportunities, for adolescent girls."

The Project Coordinator noted that, adolescent girls are usually faced with challenges that prevent them from accessing and completing secondary education, due to socio-cultural, financial constraints, and infrastructural deficits. 

"Government is making education more appealing to our adolescent girls. We are therefore equipping them with 21st century digital skills that will make them stand out and compete favourably with their peers outside," he noted. 

In his remark, the Team Lead of TedPrime Hub and implementing partner on digital literacy Sub-Component, Mr. Olamilekan Adeeko, disclosed they are training 70 teachers who will in turn retrain another 210 teachers.

In his words, "the 280 teachers together, will now train 8,000 girls, with the aim of expanding it to other students, to hit the targeted goal of 28,000 students, at the end of it all.

“What they come up with is going to improve the economic standard of the State, Nigeria and African continent at large. 

Adeeko said the objective is get them well-empowered in readiness for jobs that are not available for now and as well compete favourably with other students all over the world," he concluded. 

The World Bank Consultant on Digital Literacy Skills, Ms. Ese Adeluyi presented a paper on "Shifting Perspectives: Making Digital Skills Training Engaging and Relatable" where she reiterated the importance of the training, with the fact that "teachers are the single most important factor in students learning."

Also at the workshop,  the Education Industry Director, Microsoft Africa, Ms. Angela Nganga presented her papers on " Microsoft's Commitment and the Future of Work/Potential Opportunities, for Gender Inclusion" and spoke about the endless opportunities that abound in technology, charging girls to aspire to attain greatness. 

In their goodwill messages, the Permanent  Secretary, Ministry of Business innovation and Technology, Mrs. Mary Kemi Adeosun and Executive Chairman, Teaching Service Commission, Mallam Bello Tauheed, represented by the Head of Department, Training, Prince Kunle Yusuf appreciated the Governor for his initiatives, acknowledging the importance of equipping school girls with relevant digital skills. 

Ayobami Ashaolu 

Communications Officer 

Kwara AGILE 

08113451023.