By: Oluwatobi Aroyehun
The Kwara State Government has commenced a digital literacy training program aimed at equipping 28,000 adolescent girls with essential digital skills for future opportunities.
Organized by the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development in collaboration with the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project, the training targets students in 70 public secondary schools across the State’s three Senatorial Districts.
Speaking at a 5-day workshop held at Bovina View Hotels, the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, described the AGILE project as a key initiative of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration. Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Rebecca Bake Olanrewaju, the Commissioner emphasized that the program seeks to bridge the educational gap for adolescent girls by improving school infrastructure, providing learning materials, and introducing life skills and financial support.
She further stated that the project includes the construction and renovation of school buildings, the provision of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities, and Conditional Cash Transfers (CCT) to support disadvantaged female students.
Project Coordinator of Kwara AGILE, Mr. Adeshina Salami, commended Governor AbdulRazaq for securing the project, highlighting its significance in enhancing secondary education for girls. He explained that the initiative, supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and the World Bank, addresses socio-cultural and financial barriers hindering girls’ education.
On implementation, Mr. Olamilekan Adeeko, Team Lead of TedPrime Hub, the program’s digital literacy partner, revealed that 70 teachers are being trained to train an additional 210 teachers. This group of 280 educators will then train 8,000 girls, with a goal of reaching 28,000 students.
“The aim is to empower these girls with relevant skills to prepare them for future employment and make them globally competitive,” Adeeko stated.
World Bank Consultant on Digital Literacy Skills, Ms. Ese Adeluyi, and Microsoft Africa’s Education Industry Director, Ms. Angela Nganga, also delivered presentations on the importance of digital skills in today’s workforce.
Government officials, including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Business Innovation and Technology, Mrs. Mary Kemi Adeosun, and the Executive Chairman of the Teaching Service Commission, Mallam Bello Tauheed, lauded the initiative and encouraged continued investment in education to secure a brighter future for girls in Kwara State.
