The Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has flagged off laptop distribution to the graduates of computer training scheme under the auspices of Ekiti Digital Acceleration Programme(EDAP) to ramp up digital literacy among the youths and position them for 21st century economy.
Oyebanji assured that those who passed through the crucible of digital training shall receive free laptop computers from the state government to further expose them to the nitty gritty of the ICT scheme.
The governor gave the assurance on Monday, while distributing laptop computers to the first tranch of graduates that had been trained by experts under the EDAP programme.
Oyebanji, represented by the Commissioner for Youth Development, Hon Gold Adesola Adedayo, said the programme was conceptualised by Governor Oyebanji-led administration to bolster youths’ proficiency in digital education and enhance their relevance in the world of ICT.
The governor was emphatic that more youths will be co-opted into the programme at the expiration of training for the 1,000 that had been enlisted and now being trained in tranches by experts, as encapsulated in the Six Pillars of the governor Oyebanji’s Shared Prosperity policy thrust.
He branded the EDAP as another decisive step in his commitment to youth empowerment and inclusive economic growth of his administration, saying making the youths the pivot on which economy rotates would require deep knowledge of ICT.
Oyebanji said that the occasion, signposted the successful completion of the first cohort of the programme, which he said drew enthusiastic participation from graduates, government officials, development partners, and community stakeholders.
Oyebanji expressed elation over the workability of EDAP, which he said would provide graduates with relevant digital and entrepreneurial skills to operate under the current economic reality.
“This programme was conceived as a practical demonstration of the state government’s belief in building capacity and removing barriers for young people.
” No nation can develop beyond the capacity of its productive population, particularly their knowledge of ICT in this modern world.
“The laptops we are distributing were not mere equipment, but instruments of creativity, self-reliance, and economic independence. If you check the data, ICT is now the pillar of the economy globally and Ekiti can’t afford to lag behind in the comity of states in Nigeria .
“When this programme started, a total of 1,000 youths were enlisted and we are going to be training them in batches. But what I can assure you is that, all the 1,000 will get free laptop computers to help their creativity in ICT.
“We are even going to take more after all the 1,000 youths must have been trained and empowered”.
