Odu’a Investment Foundation Trains 1,000 Students On Coding, Programming.

The Odua Investment Foundation (OIF), the charity arm of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, has successfully provided coding and programming language training to a total of 106 students at Government College Ibadan (GCI).

The project, named Digital Education for Innovation and Economic Development (DEFINED), was launched on October 27, 2023, at the Lagos Airport Hotel, to train students from six states in the South West zone.

The epoch event was well-attended by representatives from all of Nigeria’s southwestern states. The project, directed by Professor Seun Kolade of Sheffield Business School at Sheffield Hallam University, aims to empower Yoruba youths for the digital age.

According to one of the OIF Project officers, Adeyinka Babalola, the first initiative under the (DEFINED) Project is the Byte Busters after-school coding club, which has been launched in three different schools across the six Southwest states.

The Byte Busters Coding Club was established at Government College Ibadan in Oyo State, with 106 students enrolled after two weeks of intensive hands-on summer training in writing coding and programming languages.

Mrs. Abiola Ajayi, Acting Executive Secretary of the Odua Investment Foundation, stated in her address that the (DEFINED) Project was created to help Yoruba youths develop digital skills through the creation of after-school coding clubs, among other interventions.

Mrs. Abiola saluted the students and encouraged them to continue learning because their resilience, creativity, and curiosity will shape the next generation of technological advancements.

Prof. Salihu Adelabu, Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, stated that the DEFINED Project is commendable and has the full support of Governor Seyi Makinde.

One of the students who spoke with journalists expressed gratitude to the Odua Investment Foundation for the opportunity to be trained, stating that it is a wonderful day for him.

He praised the government for supporting the project, as well as Government College, Ibadan, for assisting the students.

Insecurity: Nigerians Should Be Allow To Protect Themselves Since Government Has Failed, Northern Youths

Northern youths have advocated for self-protection by Nigerians amidst rising insecurity, as the government has failed in its responsibility to protect citizens.

This was stated in a press statement signed on Friday by Comrade Isah Abubakar, National President of the Northern Youth Council of Nigeria.

Abubakar lamented the recent rate of mass killings in Northern Nigeria, said citizens have no choice but to accept this reality, claiming that even though the two defence ministers are from the North West region, security in that region has not improved significantly.

He stated, “In my opinion, people should be allowed to protect themselves because it appears that the government has failed in its primary responsibility of providing security for lives and property.

“It is clear that the bandits operating in the north have outnumbered the security forces in the area; only the people can defend themselves.

“The Katsina State Governor has recently urged the people to defend themselves. We advise people to arm themselves and protect their communities and farms.

“It is difficult to deal with the current price increase for PMS. It has exacerbated the agony and state of abject poverty in the country. It is making life nearly impossible.

Abubakar went on to say, “Unless the current government addresses this, it has the potential to create a national scene. I am curious why people compare us to countries that pay wages of $16 to $18 per hour.

“The government must recognise that Nigeria is a third-world country and that increasing taxes at the same rate as other advanced countries will not benefit us as the world’s poverty capital.”