… Stakeholders laud Governor Abdulrazaq’s administration stance on digital skill education.
The Kwara State Government has launched a digital literacy training program aimed at equipping over 28,000 adolescent girls in 70 public secondary schools across the state’s three senatorial districts.
The initiative, organized by the Kwara State Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development in collaboration with the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project, is tagged “Digital Literacy Skills Programme for Educators and Secondary School Girls.”
Declaring the 5-day workshop open at Bovina View Hotels, the State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, emphasized the project’s significance as part of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s commitment to improving education. Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Rebecca Bake Olanrewaju, the Commissioner highlighted that AGILE aims to enhance secondary education opportunities for adolescent girls, particularly those facing educational disadvantages.
“The AGILE Project is designed to construct and renovate school structures, provide Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities, and supply essential learning materials,” she said.
She further explained that the initiative includes Life Skills and Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) sub-components, which provide female students with training on health, reproductive and emotional development, as well as financial support for disadvantaged learners to help them complete secondary education.
“Digital skills will make our students more relevant in society. This will not only keep them up to date with global trends but also create employment opportunities after their secondary education,” Modibbo Kawu added.
The Project Coordinator of Kwara AGILE, Mr. Adeshina Salami, praised Governor AbdulRazaq for bringing the project to the state, calling it “a great opportunity to equip adolescent girls with relevant digital skills to compete in the labor market.” He noted that the initiative, supported by the World Bank, is part of the Federal Ministry of Education’s broader efforts to improve secondary education for girls.
“Adolescent girls often face socio-cultural and financial challenges that prevent them from completing their education. This program aims to make education more appealing and equip them with 21st-century skills to compete with their peers globally,” Salami stated.
In his remarks, the Team Lead of TedPrime Hub, the project’s implementing partner, Mr. Olamilekan Adeeko, revealed that 70 teachers are being trained, who will then retrain an additional 210 teachers. Together, they will train 8,000 girls, with a long-term goal of reaching 28,000 students.
“What these students learn will contribute to improving the economic standards of Kwara State, Nigeria, and the African continent. Our objective is to prepare them for future jobs and enable them to compete globally,” Adeeko said.
World Bank Consultant on Digital Literacy Skills, Ms. Ese Adeluyi, presented a paper on “Shifting Perspectives: Making Digital Skills Training Engaging and Relatable,” stressing the vital role of teachers in student learning. Similarly, Microsoft Africa’s Education Industry Director, Ms. Angela Nganga, discussed “Microsoft’s Commitment and the Future of Work/Potential Opportunities for Gender Inclusion,” encouraging girls to aspire for success in technology-driven careers.
In their goodwill messages, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Business Innovation and Technology, Mrs. Mary Kemi Adeosun, and the Executive Chairman of the Teaching Service Commission, Mallam Bello Tauheed, represented by Prince Kunle Yusuf, commended the government for prioritizing digital education for young girls in the state.
