In response to the shutdown of schools due to the deadly Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, DAWN Commission on Tuesday took advantage of  the Fourth Industrial Revolution driven by digital technology by entering into a partnership with a non-governmental organisation, Ibironke Adeagbo Foundation (IAF), to revolutionize education through the introduction of e-learning device, especially amongst children from less privileged families in the South West states.

At the official handover ceremony of the devices which was held at the commission’s office, Cocoa House, Dugbe, Ibadan, the Director General of DAWN, Mr Seye Oyeleye noted that the closure of schools in the country, occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic has changed the landscape of education.

The DG assured that the development will not only bridged the increasingly evident digital education divide in the Southwest as pupils cannot continue to stay at home without finding a way for them to continue learning, but also bring education to the people at the lowest affordable cost. He added that the e-learning devices would be used to engage the governors in the region as well as other critical education stakeholders and concerned private individuals and organizations.

Oyeleye emphasized that the aim of introducing the device was to ensure that no child will be left behind because of pandemic, noting that the future of education is digital, and that the future only suddenly arrived with COVID-19.

According to him, “In the quest to make sure that everyone is carried along, we said let us have an irreducible minimum of digital education soon the kids will have access to. Because we know that we can’t afford the high end digital education that is being provided In Europe, we then look at our own peculiarities and say that how can we bring this education to the people at lowest affordable cost.

“So we have to be creative in the ways and manners we can accommodate all our children. How do you get the child in the towns and rural places connected so they don’t miss out on classes. Our pupils had gone home for months and we realised coronavirus is not going to go tomorrow morning and we are not just going to put the kids at home without finding a way for them to continue learning and we live in a part of the world where data for digital education is not that easy to come by. How do we then move forward to make sure that our children at home at thoroughly educated.

“We know without deceiving ourselves that vast majority of our pupils don’t have that luxury of a device and internet. Does that mean we now neglect them? If you neglect them, you are neglecting your future. Here at DAWN commission, our job is to think critically even for the states”.

He disclosed that apart from Ibironke Adeagbo Foundation, the commission also have one or two other organisations that it is working actively with on the digital education project.

Continuing, Oyeleye maintained that though, the device will not be free but it will be very affordable for the states, urging the states to invest in it.

“What we are saying is how can we make it easily accessible? It means that the states need to invest in it. It is something they can easily afford.

” It is partnership. It is preloaded and there is data on it. Our thinking is long term. We are talking to those who will give us the devices and data, even the content providers are not left out. The aim is that no child will be left behind because of pandemic .We shouldn’t say because some kids can’t go to school, then they are left behind. If we do that we are creating trouble for our immediate future,” he concluded

Justifying the NGO’s decision, earlier in his remarks, a trustee of Ibironke Adeagbo Foundation (IAF), Mr. Diran Famakinwa, informed that the foundation decided to partner DAWN commission because they were both working towards ensuring that majority of children who cannot afford the kind of data and electronic means to link up with their schools continue their education.

Famakinwa explained that how states will implement the use of the device would be down to the peculiarities in each state, adding that the device, comes with preloaded school syllabus in reading, writing and mathematics. He stressed that the need for a remote education will have to continue because things have changed and the kind of education before COVID-19 will not be sustainable going forward.

“Fortunately the two organisations are thinking along the same line and we saw good examples in Europe. Europe had free internet access and broadband. We’ve caught the bug of what DAWN commission is doing.

“Lagos State pioneered some mobile devices that come with six preloaded school syllabuses as well as the data credit to be able to make sure that the children while they are remotely at home were able to continue their education .So, in partnership with DAWN, we decided that everything that happened in Lagos, we need to share that broad knowledge across the whole South West region. We invested in purchasing these devices that would be shared across the other states that have not been able to use this and we would be working with them to get a feedback .

“We would be handing them over to the DAWN commission because they have a better logistics to make sure that these get to the true end user. The device is for every child and it comes with preloaded school syllabus as well as the credit. We feel this is a step in the right direction for those children that are currently not able to continue their education and we believe that even When the schools resume which we certainly hope as soon as the government is able to do deal with all the issues.

“The children will still have the need to be able to remotely access their school and be able to continue their education. We are really delighted that we can work in partnership with DAWN on this,” he remarked.

Famakinwa, however urged other stakeholders in the education sector, including philanthropists, clubs, religious organisations and societies to assist in making sure that every child in the region will be able to afford the device.

The Federal lawmaker representing Oluyole Federal Constituency and Chairperson House of Representative Committee on Diaspora, Hon. Tolu Akande-Sadipe has paid the second tranche of her 25-million naira TASK scholarship.

This payment is the second tranche of the year 2019/2020 session for twenty (20) indigent students drawn from communities across the federal Constituency.

Hon. Akande-Sadipe in a bid to fulfil her campaign promises launched the N25 Million Naira scholarship immediately after her election to the 9th Assembly.

According to a statement signed by her Media aide, Olamilekan Olusada, the lawmaker affirmed that the beneficiaries were selected on merit and each student was graded with a cumulative average of their academic standings and entry essay.

Recall that December, 2019, Hon. Akande – Sadipe flagged off the N25 Million Naira scholarship scheme at her constituency office, where the first set of beneficiaries were awarded dummy cheques.

Sadipe disclosed that payments to beneficiaries were deposited to each recipient’s bank account which covers the balance of their tuition fee and incidental expenses for the 2019/2020 academic year.

In addition to this, she has also initiated steps to commence the request for applications for new set of beneficiaries for the 2020/2021 academic year.

“The reason I believe so passionately in providing opportunities such as this, is that education has the potential to transform our nation, thereby creating progress and growth. Every citizen is a pillar of the nation and every nation rests on billions of such pillars. The more educated the pillars are, the stronger the nation’s foundation would be.

“It’s my desire that few of you someday may become legislators like me or even the Governor of Oyo State. Stay focused and committed, the sky is the limit”, the lawmaker said.

One of the beneficiaries, Mr. Olalere Ololade appreciated the lawmaker through his twitter handle: @granitolamide saying, “Good Afternoon everyone on this platform. My sincere appreciation and gratitude goes to Honourable Tolulope Akande Sadipe K for fulfilling her promise she made when she awarded us scholarship worth #100,000 on Dec 1, 2019, I have received the #100,000 for the first year of the scholarship scheme.”

“I was surprised when I saw the credit alert on the phone because I don’t believe it, I’m short of words but I pray May Almighty Allah in HIS mercy Continue to be with you throughout your days And May He make you Continue in fulfilling all the promises that you made during your campaign. Once again, I really appreciate your efforts Ma. God Bless you and your crew”.

Oyo State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has constituted the Governing Councils of tertiary institutions owned by the state.

Also constituted is the board of the Oyo State Waste Management Board, a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa indicated on Tuesday.

The statement named Chairmen and Board members for state-owned institutions including The Polytechnic Ibadan, Oke Ogun Polytechnic, Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa, Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo among others.

It also indicated that Mr. Seun Adelore will continue to chair the Board of the state’s Waste Management Agency, while the members of the agency’s Board include: Mr. Johnson Ojebiyi; Mr. Azeez Adeoti; Apostle Lamunyegun Moses; Mr. Salawudeen Tajudeen Abiola; Ayuba Akinsola; Mr. Lukman Adesina; Mr. Isiaka Aliu; Mrs. Oguntona Janet Bola; Mr. Yusuf Sarafa and Shuaibu Oladayo.

The statement added that the nominees of the different ministries on the Board are: Dr. Olubunmi Ayinde; Mr. Alao Muyiwa Maruf; Mrs. Areo Bukola Oluseun; TPL Seun Raji and Mr. Segun Olakoju.

The statement further announced the appointment of the chairmen of the governing councils of the state-owned tertiary institutions, including Dr. Ogundiran Samuel Ogunwale (The Ibarapa Polytechnic, Eruwa); Prof. Mathew Odedokun (Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo); Dr. Bisi Ojebola (College of Education, Lanlate); Professor Sunday Ajayi Adesola (Oke Ogun Polytechnic, Saki); Prof. Lateef Sanni (Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igbo Ora); Prof. Kunle Akinyemi (The Polytechnic, Ibadan).

Those appointed as members of The Ibarapa Polytechnic, Eruwa were Alhaji Musiliu Oyedemi; Barr. Segun Adebayo; Mrs. Adedokun Alice; Mr Wazir Adekunle and Alhaji Azeem Badmus.

Hon. Banji Folaranmi; Al-Hassan Sakirat; Alhaji Liadi Busari and Chief Joshua Oyetunde Abioye were appointed as members of the Governing Council of Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo.

Similarly, Alhaji Aliyu Tajudeen; Mrs Lawal Jumoke; Mr Ajayi-Ope Olatunde Phillips and Mrs Mojisola Alenkhe were appointed as members of the College of Education, Lanlate’s Governing Council.

For the Governing Council of the Oke Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, Dr. Omotayo Funmilola Olubunmi; Mr. Isiaka Adegbayi Kareem; Prof. Stephen Adegbite; Mr. Ife Oyelere and Mr. Balogun Nurudeen were appointed as members.

Mr. Abdulrahman Alayande; Dr. Abegunde Ilori Amos; Mrs. Tunrayo Ajeigbe; Princess Adenike Adedoja; Mr. Lukman Balogun; Mr. Olalekan Kazeem Bello; Hon. Taiwo Akano; Mr. Adesope Elijah Adesina and Mr. Olawuwo Samuel Adigun were appointed as members of the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igbo Ora’s Governing Council.

For The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Prof. Sarafadeen Olateju Kareem; Prof. S.G. Odewumi; Barr. Jide Ojolowo; Mr. Adedapo Adekunle Joshua; Ayaba Moji Adeyemi; Hon. Abiola Ayorinde Taoreed and Hon. Bola Akinyemi were appointed as members of its Governing Council.

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