Ondo – The Ondo State government has signed a school agreement with Microsoft Nigeria to provide the state’s schools with high quality and affordable ICT education.

The school agreement will see Microsoft and its partners, provide teachers in 450 schools in Ondo State with ICT education, as well as the tools needed to effectively train students on Microsoft technologies, with a bid to enabling students develop self-reliance and then create a skilled community.

The signing ceremony was held  at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Arcade Alagbaka, Akure. Present at the ceremony were Ondo State legislature, Ondo executive council, traditional rulers and representatives of Microsoft.  The Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko, was special guest at the occasion.

Emmanuel Onyeje, Country Manager Microsoft Anglophone West Africa in discussion with Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko at the Ondo State IT Academies sign off ceremony

“Microsoft is pleased to be part of this partnership with the Ondo State Government. As a technology enabler, we believe IT education contributes significantly to economic empowerment, growth and development, offering the appropriate skills to use technology in innovative ways” said Emmanuel Onyeje, General Manager Microsoft Nigeria at the event.

The Microsoft IT Academy programme schools offer a world-class IT curriculum allowing students utilise the latest Microsoft technologies while learning about information technology and earning Microsoft technology certifications. The programme also aims to link academic learning to job skills, thus allowing students to graduate with the IT skills that they will need to advance in their future careers with minimal adjustment in the working world and contributing positively to the global economy. With the Microsoft IT Academies in Ondo State, participating students become Microsoft certified, benefitting from e-learning courses demonstrating their proficiency in ICT and equipping them with work-related IT skills.

Microsoft effectively partners with several companies in Nigeria to deliver its IT requirements in the country. The Microsoft IT Academy school agreement was orchestrated by Microsoft certified partner, Infographics Limited who worked closely with the Ondo State government to establish the Microsoft IT Academy programme in the State.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimko said, “The Ondo Government aims to create positive change in education in the State. We are determined to provide quality IT education to our youth, giving them the skills and knowledge to make them self-reliant and economically productive. Our partnership with Microsoft means we are fulfilling this vision”.

The governor thanked Microsoft for partnering with the state, and enjoined teachers and students to make the best use of the ICT education presented.

The Microsoft IT Academy provides over 175 eLearning courses to students wanting to advance their software knowledge. Microsoft will provide free email and collaboration tools as part of the Microsoft IT Academy.