By Esther Onyegbula

No fewer than 150 youths in Ojodu Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Lagos State, on Thursday graduated from a comprehensive digital skills training programme, as the council chairman, Hon. David Odunmbaku, intensified efforts to position the area for opportunities in the global digital economy.

The graduates, trained both physically and virtually, received hands-on instruction in digital literacy, social media and digital marketing, cloud computing, cyber security awareness, Internet of Things, IoT, and artificial intelligence.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony held at the council secretariat in Oke-Ira, Powerline, Odunmbaku described the initiative as “a testament to the power of knowledge and a significant milestone in our collective journey towards a digitally empowered future.”

He said the programme had equipped participants with practical tools to thrive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, noting that the council deliberately shifted from basic computer appreciation to specialised and income-generating digital competencies.

According to him, the curriculum, tagged Building Blocks of Future, was designed to align beneficiaries with global trends and open up job and entrepreneurial opportunities.
“This training has armed you with the confidence to navigate and dominate the digital space. You can now pitch to clients, understand cloud risks, protect businesses, and proffer solutions using IoT and AI,” he said.

Charging the graduates to maximise the opportunity, Odunmbaku added: “You are now ambassadors of this programme. Go out there and globalise your skills, fix broken systems and innovate. Remember, technology is just a tool; the real power lies in the mind of the user.”

The chairman further disclosed that under his administration’s HEYS Reloaded agenda, the council had trained 2,631 primary and 2,168 secondary school pupils in digital skills, upgraded its ICT centre at Sogunro into a modern facility, revamped its official website, and developed the Ojodu Works App.

He also listed the distribution of 40 laptops to previous beneficiaries and the launch of an Electronic Medical Records, EMR, platform to enhance access to healthcare services across public health centres in the council as part of ongoing digital transformation efforts.

In his remarks, one of the training partners and Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Chartered IT Professionals, ICITP, South Africa, Mr. Seun Adegelu, said the graduates were now equipped to compete globally.

“With the knowledge you have acquired, you can stand shoulder to shoulder with your counterparts anywhere in the world. This is a commendable initiative, and I encourage more youths to take advantage of such opportunities,” he said.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of laptops to outstanding participants, including Adedeji Elizabeth, Adetunji Rashidat, Olanrewaju Babalola and Segbedji Fernando, who are also billed to continue advanced training in South Africa.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Adetunji Rashidat expressed appreciation to the council chairman, describing the training as life-changing.

“It has upgraded our lives and expanded our knowledge. For me as a teacher, it will improve my performance and create additional income streams. This programme has shown that Ojodu LCDA is leading in digital skills development,” she said.