About two hundred youths drawn from Ibadan South-West/North-West Federal Constituency and other parts of the state have benefited from a 10-day training and empowerment programme organised by the two-term Member representing the Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Dhikrullahi Adedeji Olajide, popularly known as Odidiomo.
The youths, mostly unemployed, were trained on digital marketing, cybersecurity basics, remote work, and technology-enabled entrepreneurship at the week-long event facilitated by Hon Olajide in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
All the over 200 beneficiaries were equally gifted laptops and financial support, with Odidiomo, a leading governorship aspirant in the state, maintaining that the training and empowerment are part of his commitment to building a better future for youths and enabling them to thrive in a technological world.
Speaking at the event, Hon. Olajide, who is the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Digital, Information Communication Technology and Cybersecurity, hailed Governor Seyi Makinde for engineering a modern Oyo State.
He maintained that as part of his vision to make Oyo State greater and build on the solid foundation laid by Governor Makinde, he has several priorities including establishing tech and innovation hubs to position Ibadan, the state capital, as the technology capital of the South-West.
He added that the digital literacy and empowerment programme was a response to the challenge of youth unemployment and the urgent need to bridge the digital divide, calling on beneficiaries to make effective use of the training and tools provided.
He stated that he has, over the past six years, facilitated the training of over 2,475 youths across Oyo State, supported the establishment of five digital training hubs and provided scholarship opportunities to students at both secondary and tertiary levels, efforts which he noted are “deliberate steps towards building a future-ready society.”
He said: “Today marks not just the end of a training exercise, but the beginning of a new journey for over 200 young men and women who have been equipped with relevant digital skills to compete in today’s evolving technology-driven world.
“This initiative was conceived as a practical response to the challenge of youth unemployment and the urgent need to bridge the digital divide. Beyond theoretical knowledge, you have been exposed to real life applications in areas such as digital marketing, remote work and technology-enabled entrepreneurship. The laptops and financial support provided are not just tools, but a call to action for you to create, innovate and become contributors to the economy.
“Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, as Chairman of the House committee on Digital, Information Communication Technology and Cybersecurity, I have facilitated the training and empowerment of over 2,475 youths across Oyo state, supported the establishment of five digital training hubs and provided scholarship opportunities to students at both secondary and tertiary levels. These are modest but deliberate steps towards building a future-ready society.
“I am also pleased to inform you that the Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill, which I sponsored on the floor of the House is at an advanced stage and the public hearing on the bill will hold soon.
“I urge all stakeholders in the digital and technology ecosystem to come forward with ideas and recommendations that will help us build a robust and achievable legal framework for Nigeria’s digital future.”
Hon Olajide also used the occasion to address his ambition to succeed Governor Makinde, noting that his decision to join the race was triggered by a sincere desire to build on the lasting legacy of infrastructure development, improved health, education and expanded economy, which Makinde has been renowned for.
He called on youths and other residents of the state to support his aspiration, noting that if elected as governor, he will pursue an ambitious digital economy agenda that will transform into improved economy and improved lives for residents of the state.
“You will recall that recently, I made my intention known to contest for the governorship of Oyo State. This decision is driven by a sincere desire to build on thesolid foundation laid by our amiable governor, His Excellency, Engr. Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde. It is trite to say that his administration has re-engineered Oyo state through remarkable strides in infrastructure, education, healthcare and public service reforms.
“On our part, we will not stop the wheel of progress. Rather, we will complete ongoing projects, consolidate on existing gains and expand into new frontiers that will position Oyo State as a leading subnational economy in Nigeria.
“One of such frontiers is the Digital Economy and Innovation agenda. We will pursue an ambitious Oyo Digital Infrastructure Plan that ensures broadband expansion across all local government areas and the provision of public Wi-Fi in key economic hubs. We will establish tech and innovation hubs to position lbadan as the technology apital of the South-west, while partnering with startups and the private sector to drive innovation.
“We will also deepen digital skill development through programmes in coding, artificial intelligence and tech vocations, thereby creating jobs and empowering our youths,” he added.
Earlier, a representative of NITDA, Mr. Eedris Faruk, said participants were equipped with skills in digital literacy, artificial intelligence, responsible platform use, and online business setup to enhance education, entrepreneurship, and employment opportunities.
In their responses, some of the beneficiaries hailed Odidiomo for the thoughtful programme, which they noted, have exposed them to digital literacy and placed them on a sound footing to eke a living in technology.
This was as they declared their support for the Rep Member, noting that he is youth-friendly and future-focused and that he is best-suited to lead Oyo State after Governor Makinde, a youth-oriented governor who made a great difference in the lives of youths in the state.
