Lagos to host Digitest 2008

Lagos, the centre of excellence, would in next month play host to over 800 youths as Digital Peers International (DPI) organizes its 2008 Digitest in the former nation’s capital.

National Director of a non-governmental organization championing the development of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) capabilities in women and children, the Digital Peers International (DPI), Mrs. Ibukun Odusote made this disclosure at a media conference in Lagos.

Mrs. Odusote represented at the occasion by Head, Programme and Operations, Mr. Rotimi Olawale, who led the team of DPI officers including Messrs Biola Adebajo and Kunle Oloyede, Heads of Designs and Facilitations respectively, said that an estimated 800 youths are expected to be part of the Digitest this year being hosted in Lagos.

She also said that due to several partners have queued behind the project through various support thereby reducing the cost of participation per child to N15,000.

This, she said, would in addition afford such participating students to become members of Digitest Information Technology (IT) Club in schools and registered DigiPals.

Digitest, she said, has membership across all the 36 states of the federation.
While commended the efforts of its partners, DPI said that the likes of NTA, Zenith Bank Plc, the Education Trust Fund, Radio Nigeria, Ministry of Information and Communication, Computer Professional Council of Nigeria, Nigeria Computer Computer Society among others.

Equally, she said, that Nigerians should expect exciting version of Digitest Nigeria scheduled to hold in Lagos, from August 19 to 31, 2008, “where 800 participants are expected in camp to learn and compete around the theme, “e-business: no barriers, no boundaries.”

In addition, DPI would once again take its Digitest Abroad project to Singapore and Dubai between August 1 through 15, 2008.

“More than 30 children have registered for this year’s edition which promises to be as exciting, educational and fun filled as its previous editions. The participants will train at the Informatics Institute in Singapore and afterwards develop IT solutions around the theme; e-business: no barriers, no boundaries,” she told newsmen.

On the Nigeria’s vision 2020, Mrs. Odusote noted that being among the 20th largest economy by year 2020 cannot be energized if young people are not equipped with the necessary ICT skills needed to build a vibrant economy.

“No development and no growth takes place any longer without ICT as computer has taken over the determinants of national development,” she declared.

Pointing out that Digitest, which is IT-based, is a modest contribution to the computer age in terms of creating awareness and educating young people on vital computer and ICT skills.

“What would happen in this country if any of our children between the ages of 8 and 18 now are not computer proficient in the next 7-10 years, it will be disastrous for this great country,” she asserted.


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