Team U.P.G.R.A.D.E., a group of 2026 Fellows of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy (LJLA), has launched a solar-powered digital learning hub and remodelled a public school library in Kosofe, Lagos, as part of efforts to bridge the digital divide and improve learning outcomes in public schools.

Team U.P.G.R.A.D.E., which stands for Unlocking Potential through Growth, Research and Applied Digital Education, comprises fellows of the LJLA, a Lagos State Government initiative established to develop future leaders with practical public sector experience and problem-solving skills.

The project, themed “Bridging the Digital Divide: Empowering for Global Competitiveness,” transformed an underutilised public school library into a hybrid learning centre featuring a refurbished ICT laboratory, a modern library and a structured book reading club.

The initiative was unveiled during a two-day programme that combined infrastructure commissioning with capacity-building activities for students and teachers.

Activities on the first day included a tree-planting exercise to promote environmental sustainability and mark the yearly Lagos Tree planting day, a debate competition involving secondary school students and the official commissioning of the digital hub.

The second day focused on a teachers’ conference, where educators received training on integrating digital tools into classroom instruction, managing modern learning environments and adopting student-centred teaching methods.

According to the organisers, the project was conceived to address the challenges posed by limited access to digital learning resources and the declining reading culture among students in public schools.

They noted that many candidates sitting for computer-based examinations, including those conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), often have little or no prior experience using computers, placing them at a disadvantage.

The facility is powered by a solar-inverter system to ensure uninterrupted electricity and is equipped with 50 laptops preloaded with offline Computer-Based Testing (CBT) examination simulation software, enabling students to prepare for examinations without internet access.

The remodelled library also provides an improved reading environment, while the Book Reading Club, established in March 2026, is expected to promote reading culture, critical thinking and vocabulary development among students.

The organisers said the digital hub is expected to serve between 150 and 300 public secondary school students annually during its pilot phase, with priority given to candidates preparing for the 2026/2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and JAMB examinations.

The commissioning attracted government officials, education stakeholders and community leaders, including the General Manager of the Lagos State Ferry Services, AbdulBaki Ladi Balogun; the Executive Secretary of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government Establishments and Training, Ms Toyin Ogunlana, former Chairman of Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area, Dele Osinowo.

Representatives of the Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Education District II, school administrators and community leaders also attended the event.

Speaking at the ceremony, Osinowo pledged additional funding to expand the capacity of the digital hub, while other public and private sector stakeholders also committed support for the facility’s long-term sustainability.

Team Lead, Titilope Anifowoshe, said the project reflected the fellows’ commitment to giving back to society and demonstrated the impact of investing in young leaders.

“We were fueled by the conviction that Lagos has given us too much for us to leave without giving something back. This project proves what happens when young people are trusted with real responsibility,” she said.

She commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat for supporting leadership development through the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy.

To ensure the sustainability of the project, Team U.P.G.R.A.D.E. said it had entrusted management and maintenance with the beneficiary school’s administration and education district administrators to oversee technical maintenance, security and operational management of the facility.

The Principal of Alapere Community Senior High School, Ogbeiwi Margaret, expressed appreciation to the fellows for the intervention, describing the digital hub and library as a valuable addition to the school’s learning facilities.

She pledged that the school would preserve the project and ensure it continues to serve future generations of students.

“We will maintain these facilities and ensure they are put to good use. This project will remain a lasting legacy for our students and the school community,” Margaret added.

The team said the Kosofe project would serve as a pilot for similar interventions across Lagos State, with plans to expand digital learning facilities, establish book reading clubs in more schools, promote community libraries and provide soft skills training for students.