Obasanjo’s wife tasks FG on sustainable digital education investment

In the spirit of this year’s Children’s Day and to promote digital literacy among young Nigerians, wife of former President, Mrs. Bola Obasanjo, has charged the Federal Government to sustainably invest in students’ digital education to jump-start skill acquisition.

She made the call at the digital competency competition organised for secondary school pupils in Abeokuta, Ogun State by the Centre for Industrial Engineering Research and Economic Development (CIERED).

The ex-President’s spouse decried the digital literacy rate among students in government schools, urging retooling of pupils with requisite digital skills to blend in the new era.

She urged government to prioritise investment in digital education, which according to her, would not only improve quality of education, but also prepare pupils for the Information Technology (IT)-driven labour market.

Her words: “Government should help us give digital education to students. This education is the bedrock of society in today’s world. Government should fund digital education in public schools.

“Also, public and private schools should mingle to learn the necessary skills. Government should empower them with digital education.”
Director-General of CIERED, Dr. Tobi Adeuyi, submitted that digital competency has become an indispensable asset to harness the boundless opportunities in the rapidly evolving world.

To this end, he said the contest was to showcase digital skills and creativity of participants with a view for improvement.

The Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) expert pointed out that the idea was to include in school curricula concepts that allow young creative minds to be innovative and enthrone a technology-driven society.

While noting that technology has changed the way people live, work and communicate in the current modern world, Adeuyi stressed that digital education is essential for students to develop needed skills to compete favourably in the global economy.

His words: “Digital competency has become an indispensable asset, enabling individuals, businesses and societies to harness the boundless opportunities that lie before us.

“Technology has changed the way we live, work and communicate in today’s world.

“Digital competency is no longer a luxury, but a necessity for all. Digital competency is the ability to use digital tools and technologies to access, manage and create information and knowledge.

“It is a crucial skill that everyone needs to succeed in the 21st century.”