Ambode launches EducateLagos, pledges to technologically advance state

To build capacity and empower Nigerians with the best body of knowledge to drive development, the Lagos State government has launched a digital library tagged “EducateLagos,” which, would provide access to learning materials for everyone, particularly students and researchers.

Speaking during the launch in Lagos, governor Akinwumi Ambode said EducateLagos and the CodeLagos projects are part of efforts to build a globally competitive economy and also make the state the next technology hub in Africa.

The digital library launched in partnership with SystemSpecs, a leading Human Capital Management and Financial Software Solutions company, he added will provide a repository of content that include 2,000 Study Aids on core subjects from primary to senior secondary school curriculum and over 1,600 tutorials.

The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, explained that other materials include instructional videos and selected e–books for primary level to senior secondary school (SS3) approved textbooks, brief history of Lagos State, online forum, podcasts and Exam-mate, a test resource.

He said, “It also includes quality research papers from Lagos State tertiary institutions covering a wide variety of topics digitized for the platform; vocational training videos, entrepreneurship content; creatively presented history lessons and online courses on coding.”

The governor further added that plans are underway to provide unlimited access to knowledge for all through the collection and curation of digital content by online portal. He said based on available statistics, Africa is expected to reach 500 million internet users by 2020, majority of whom would access it through mobile devices.

He pointed out that what his administration has done is thinking and working ahead by launching the digital library to achieve the goal of becoming Africa’s model megacity and global economic and financial hub.

Also the Special Adviser to the governor on Education, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh, remarked that the programme is an extension of late Premier of Western Region of Nigeria, Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s free education policy.

He said that the vision of the late Awolowo is the reason why the South-West part of the country had a major advantage in the area of education, adding that what the state has done was to build on that legacy and continue the democratisation of education.

Speaking on the partnership with the state, Executive Director, SystemSpecs Limited, Deremi Atanda, said for them in the knowledge based industry, their aim is to invest in others, so that the economy is expanded and Nigeria become a destination of choice for products and services that represent the best of knowledge.