Member representing Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North Federal Constituency, Hon. (Dr.) Anthony Adebayo Adepoju, has facilitated A-4 Day Skill Acquisition and Empowerment Programme for Youth and Women in Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North Local Government Areas of Oyo State.
The initiative is aimed at equipping youth and women in the two local government areas with foundational digital skills to thrive in the digital age and seize opportunities for personal and professional growth. It is also geared at enabling participants to confidently navigate the online world and lay the groundwork for further digital literacy development. It encompasses exposing residents in the constituency to basic computer literacy, internet navigation, email management, social media usage, online safety and productivity tools, fostering a solid understanding of essential digital concepts and technologies.
The programme, which is designed, monitored and evaluated by the Centre for Management Development (CDM), will have constituents in Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North trained on Computer Appreciation (Introduction to ICT), Introduction to Internet Concepts & Usage/Risks, Social Media Application & Optimization, Digital Literacy Essentials (Audio & Visual Basics), Digital Literacy Essentials (Email Management), Productivity Tool (Microsoft + PowerPoint), Productivity Tool (Microsoft Excel), Basic Concepts in Customer Service & Business Startup/Training Evaluation.
Beneficiaries were selected based on well-known registered associations, including but not limited to Student Body, Farmers, Barber Association, Hairdresser Association, Carpenter Association, Automobile Technician Association, Tailor Association, Teacher Association, Bricklayer Association, Market Women Association,Teachers Association, Pensioner Association.
Declaring the event open on behalf of Hon. Adepoju on Friday, August 16, 2024, Hon. Sola Adeleke, Executive Chairman of Ibarapa Central, commended Hon. Adepoju for facilitating yet another programme that will address one of the major problems confronting not just the constituency but Ibarapa as a whole.
The council chairman maintained that Ibarapa is blessed with many intelligent people, stressing that a lack of understanding of simple computer basics has negatively affected a lot of job seekers from the geopolitical zone.
In his address at the Aridunnu event hall in Igboora on Friday, Hon. Adeleke made reference to the recently concluded SUBEB and TESCOM examinations by the Oyo State Government, adding that the mass failure of a number of intelligent people from the region is a result of the inability of the majority of the applicants to effectively answer computer-based tests.
He, however, appreciated Hon. Adepoju for serving the constituency with passion, dedication and commitment, expressing optimism in the initiative as one of those programmes that will create awareness and ultimately address the challenges of computer illiteracy.
According to Hon. Adepoju, all participants will be issued a certificate of participation and startup capital for each of the constituents to practice what they have learned, including free lunch throughout the four days of training.
The lawmaker also appreciated the federal government of Nigeria for its efforts in bridging the disparities and barriers hindering the full realisation of individual potential at the local level.
Hon. Adepoju thanked the constituents for turning out in their large number to opt in for the training. He also expressed optimism that constituents in Ibarapa Central and North will be better off after the training. The Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Character hinted on the possibility of having an ICT center in the constituency to further enhance the utilization of the skills learned.
