The typical Nigerian communal efforts recently paid off as
the Imode Community Digital Literacy Center (ICDiLiCe) was launched at Oke-Ero
Local Government Area of Kwara State, reports ITRealms.
Disclosing this at the commissioning of the centre, powered
by solar and equipped with state-of-the-art Information and Communication
Technology (ICT) infrastructure, recently, the President, Imode Development
Association (IDA), Pastor Joseph Babatunde, said it would assist the education
and curiosity of every citizen within and around the community,
The project, which involves a modern Information Technology
(IT) centre and a school bus, he said, were to assist the students absorb the
IT culture at this digital era.
Babatunde, in the company of his vice, Rev. Sunday Folayan,
and Onimode of Imode, Oba Joseph Dada, recalled with joy that the idea of
provision of a modern IT Centre for the school came to him, a couple of years
ago when one of his children did the post-JAMB exam in University of Ilorin
(Unilorin).
“The students were all given computers to do the exams.
While she breezed through the exams, most of the other children were just
starring at the device until the time was over. I felt challenged there and
then, to give every child that needed opportunity,” he revealed.
In addition, Babatunde said, IDA has done the little it
could by providing the facilities, stressing that “We want to see the impact
through improved performances in all the exams of our students/pupils.”
Equally speaking, IDA Vice President, Reverend Sunday
Folayan, noted that the Imode ICT Vision encompasses bringing the community, the
resident and especially the students closer to attaining a digitally smart
community.
“This will be achieved by reliance on technology, carefully
backed up with traditional methods that are functional. A significant number of
indigenes will continue to live outside the community or the country, and their
needs and requirements to stay connected to their roots will continue to inform
the community’s development policies,” he said.
Folayan expounded that ICT will be used to solve practical
problems, such as educational deficiency as well as the security of lives and
properties.
“Most aspects of the Community engagement activities will be
conducted electronically towards widening access and participation especially
with its citizens in the diaspora, using appropriate technologies,” he said.
Members of the Imode community, he further said, will come
to accept a high standard of up-to-date facilities, ease-of-use and
reliability, richness of information, integrated services and excellent
support”, he explained.
Folayan pointed out that the Centre will serve as a
launch-pad for making the community an ICT model in the state as well as the
country by developing local software and systems that preserves the language
and culture of Imode people providing technical support for the repair and
maintenance of communications equipment such as phones, tablets and computers
within Imode community and providing Internet access for both DiLiCe and the
community.
ITRealms gathered
that the Paradigm Initiative (PI) is working with IDA for training and capacity
building, while the equipment in the centre were sourced entirely online
through Konga.
As said by the Executive Director at Paradigm Initiative and
content partners on the project, Mr. Gbenga Sesan, said the initiative will be
of huge impact if well managed.
Represented by Programme Manager at PI, Mr. Tosin Abolaji, the Executive Director said, the facility is
primarily setup for the youth in the community, assuring they would not be
denied the use of it.
“We will encourage the Association (IDA) to have a committee
that will look into the management of the facility, design a program that will
ensure that the youth are regularly/constantly trained, even use the facility
as a source of generating fund for the school and community by making it a
resource centre. Neighboring communities can subscribe to the usage of the
facility and pay stipends. The list of possibilities goes on and on but what is
very important is a strong management,” he said.
Uj. N. Dominic/ED, Ops
ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!
Pix: (L-r): President, Imode Development Association (IDA),
Pastor Joseph Babatunde; IDA’s Vice President, Reverend Sunday Folayan
observing as the royal father, Onimode of Imode, Oba Joseph Dada, cuts the tape
to commission the Digital Literacy Centre donated by Imode Development
Association to the Community’s Secondary School, Oke-Ero L.G.A, Kwara State on
Saturday, September 30, 2017…
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