The Wife of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs Tamunominini Makinde, says the acquisition of both digital literacy and Information Technology skills has become imperative, more than ever, for individuals to remain relevant and enhance their future.
Mrs Makinde disclosed this while speaking at an event to commemorate the 2021 International Day of the Girl Child, themed, “Digital Generation, Our Generation.”
She urged Students and Teachers of Secondary schools across the state on the need to be digitally literate to be relevant now and in the future.
At the event, held at the House of Chiefs, House of Assembly Complex, Oyo State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, Mrs Makinde noted that the emphasis over time had been on the Students, but that it is crucial for Teachers to also equip themselves technologically, to be on the same page with their students, whom she described as “tech-savvy”.
She enjoined female students to take seriously Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and correct the insinuation that STEM courses are more of the jurisdiction of male students.
Stressing that everything today is a product of technology, the Governor’s Wife urged female students to take keener interest in Information Technology (IT), while also praying that more females get involved in the coding and development of computer programmes.
Instead of negativities, Mrs Makinde urged students to rather explore the Internet to choose their career paths, network mentors and acquire and share ideas that would positively impact the world, stressing that students should reap the benefits of ever changing technological innovations and not expose themselves to cyber bullying.
Other speakers at the event, including a Cloud Infrastructure Engineer, Mrs Kafilat Sokunbi, and another expert, Mrs Aderonke Adedayo, emphasised the need to optimise technology as a tool for social change and development.
In his remarks, the State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr Abiodun Abdu-Raheem, emphasised that technological knowledge, especially by girls, is crucial to the development of Nigeria and Africa at large.
He decried the high prejudice against women and unequal opportunity to education, saying the State government was keen on ensuring that the voice of the Girl child is not muffled.
Mr Abdu-Raheem added that the State Ministry of Education had, since 2012, included in its curriculum at all levels, digital and technology education.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
