By Abimbola Joseph
CITIZENS COMPASS–The Teachers Fellowship Training at Senator Abiru Innovation Laboratory in Ikorodu, Lagos State, yesterday, produced 4,000 teachers.
The Citizen Compass reports that the free training programme was organised in partnership with Co Creation Hub(CcHub) and MTN Foundation with beneficiaries selected across the nation.
The participants underwent a four-month training in different skills which includes; tech talent, accelerator program and STEM.
Speaking at the event, the Senator representing Lagos Senatorial Distric, Mukhail Tokunbo Abiru, said that the training was organised to bridge the gap in the nation’s learning and teaching curve adding that it was important for Nigeria to invest heavily in the future of technology especially among young people.
He urged the graduands to apply the skills acquired, upgrade on it, be a worthy ambassador of the foundation, exchange ideas and promised to continuously engage them to sustain the program.
He commended them for their determination and resilient during the training emphasising that they have become members of the ecosystem of SAIL and
“There is a gap in the country’s learning curve, the practical work in learning and teaching is seriously missing, however, Nigeria must invest heavily in technology.
“Together, we are not just improving education, but to lay the foundation of brighter and prosperous Nigeria.
“We missed out in the industrial revolution, so we cannot afford to miss out on the digital revolution that is going on,” he said.
Earlier, Mrs Odunayo Sanya, the Executive Director of MTN Foundation urged the graduands to impact the knowledge and experiences back to their various communities of learning and also pass it to other teachers with a promise to conduct monitoring and evaluation.
“It is a promise that Mtn will also be running the programme in the year 2025,” she said.
In her remarks, Mrs Chinyelo Akpan, coordinator at CcHuB, commended the participants and Senator Abiru for keying in to the vision of upgrading and training or teachers seeing that technology is the driver of any ecosystem.
“It is 4000 today, we are not stopping there, stop blaming anybody, now you have been trained with the best method of technology to unlock the future in Nigeria, ” she said.
Also speaking, Mr Tolani Sule, Lagos State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, commended Abiru for the initiative adding that upgrading infrastructures and quality of teachers was also an important agenda of Lagos State Government programmes.
“The extent a Nation goes lies on the quality of education of the country”‘ he said.
In his remark, Mr Cornelius Ojelabi, Lagos State Chairman of All Progressive Congress(APC)Party, appreciates the political leaders for their support and presenting Sen. Abiru to represent the East Senatorial district because he prepared people to become employers of labour.
Ojelabi, said the party has initiated measures to evaluate the performances of all elected person from council chairmen to legislatures in the state and Federal because the empowerment has not been reflective
“The SAIL Innovation Lab is impactful in material and human capacity, it is an indication that it has touched lives across Nigeria, ” he said.
Also, the traditional ruler of Ikorodu Kingdom, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, (Ayangburen of Ikorodu) urged the public to embrace and appeal to the LASG to build hostels in state tertiary institutions to alleviate the suffering of students on accommodations.
Similarly, Ms Adama Yakubu, participant from Kaduna state, said the training is not only about impacting knowledge but to advocate meaningful change while Brian Anthony, from Ondo state urged members to use the skills for effective delivery.
Dignitaries present includes; Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, Ex Lagos state deputy gov., Sen. Adeseye Ogunlewe, Ex Minister, APC part stalwart, traditional leaders among others.
