The Chairman of Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Lagos State, Ms Samiat Bada, has urged 150 beneficiaries of the council’s free Information and Communication Technology (ICT) empowerment programme to leverage their newly acquired skills for positive change in their communities.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony of the third edition of the initiative, Bada emphasized that the programme was designed to equip youths and residents with essential digital skills to open up new opportunities.
She reaffirmed her administration’s commitment to sustaining such empowerment initiatives aimed at building a digitally skilled generation.
“This is a big key in your hands, use it wisely, multiply your skills, and become an inspiration to others.
“ You are now ambassadors of what is possible when government and community work together for progress.
“By the grace of God, and with your continued support in this second term, we will scale up this initiative even further, introducing more advanced courses and creating wider access for our youths and residents,” she said.
The chairman expressed gratitude to the facilitators, ICT team, and the people of Ikosi Isheri LCDA for their support.
She added that their trust and encouragement would inspire her administration to do more.
Also speaking, Mr Damilare Orimoloye, Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Sport, said that Information technology remained a key sector that must be embraced.
He noted that having a local council looking in this direction would usher in development to the area.
Orimoloye urged the graduands to utilise their skills to solve problems in their society.
“This is a plus, that is why we are here to give her the necessary support and to also give the needed support the graduands.
“I urge you not to sit back after getting the certificates but to get something to do with it, and solve problems in society.
“There are a lot of problems that youths can solve. When you go to Somolu, they will say it is a home of Printing, let’s turn Ikosi Isheri to a home of ICT too.
“Let’s solve problems in our society. Let people come from different local government areas to Ikosi Isheri, to find solutions to information, and technology,” he said.
One of the graduands, Olojede Ifedayo, who was trained in Data Analysis, expressed gratitude to the chairman for providing laptops and data to facilitate the programme.
“I feel really good about it because normally, this would have cost me so much but the chairman made it easy for us by providing the laptops, and data that we used.
“It was so seamless and the programme is designed in such a way that if you don’t have a laptop or internet, you can still take the training, so, it was really good. I hope to pass the knowledge to other people,” he said.
Another graduand, Opeyemi Agboola, a private school teacher trained in Full Stack Web Development, said he would take the knowledge back to his school.
“I am a teacher by profession. I already told my pupils that I will be replicating everything I have learnt, from creating a website, app, creating google form and more with them.
I appreciate the chairman for giving us the privilege to learn ICT at no cost,” he added.
