Date: 2017-10-03

Imode Community in Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara State now has a Digital Literacy Center (DiLiCe) which students and youths in the community can now make use of.

The centre which is solar-technology powered was initiated toward making Imode a digital smart community in Kwara State.

The Community Development Association, leveraged the National Information Technology (NITDA) Policy-which aim to nurture and empower Nigerian youth through information technology- to deliver on the capacity project.

Speaking at the public presentation of the Digital Literacy Center (DiLiCe), President, Imode Development Association (IDA), Pastor Joseph Babatunde, said that the projects: a modern IT centre was to assist students in the ancient community to imbibe Information Technology culture as the world has gone digital. He explained that the ICT centre which is the first of its kind in the community will go along way to make dwellers, especially the youths, become Information Technology complaint and 'netizens' which is very essential for academic execellence and economic prosperity.

Babatunde said, "I recall with joy that the idea of the provision of a modern IT Centre came to me a couple of years ago when one of my 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.

"Imode Development Association provided this ICT facility alongside a big school bus which has been made accessible to all studdents as we look forward to see the impact through improved performances in all the exams of our students/pupils in the community."

According to IDA's Vice President, Reverend Sunday Folayan, there is need for indigines abroad to stay connected to their root and this can seamlessly be made possible through Information Communication Technology.

"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. This digitally Smart Community project is achived through the impact of ICT in some of the Nigerian smart states.

IDA's Vice President, Reverend Sunday Folayan; Program Manager at Paradigm Initiative (PI), Mr. Tosin Abolaji; Onimode of Imode, Oba Joseph Dada; IDA's President, Pastor Joseph Babatunde; Chairman, IDA's Education Committee, Professor Mike Abiodun, Principal, Community Secondary School (Senior), Imode, Mr. Raheem Adebiyi. Standing are students of the Community Senior Secondary School, during the official commissioning of the Digital Literacy Centre donated by Imode Development Association to the Community's Schools, Oke-Ero L.G.A, Kwara State recently.

"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. Also, members of the community 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.

According to the Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative (PI) and content partners on the project, Mr. Gbenga Sesan, said the initiative will birth huge impact if it is well utilized.

Represented by Program Manager Mr. Tosin Abolaji, said, "The facility is primarily setup for the youth in the community and we believe they won't 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 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." Chairman, IDA's Education Committee, Professor Mike Abiodun, said, "Let's agree that that the community has done a very good job, by setting up an ICT Centre and it's important to understand that education is a collaborative venture.

"The government cannot do it alone; the same thing applies to the schools and parents. It has to be collaborative between the government, the community and parents. "We are in the ICT age; if you are not computer literate it will be difficult to contribute effectively. So, the community thinks that if their children must go higher in life, then it becomes necessary. With the calibre of persons that we have that will handle the kids; we believe that the students will take full advantage of it.

The solar-powered DiLiCe fully equipped with 40 laptops, printer, internet connectivity, and other facilities, was presented to the Community's Primary and Secondary Schools with the representatives of the State and local governments, lawmakers, educational bodies and the traditional ruler, the Onimode of Imode, Oba Joseph Dada, among other dignitaries.