50 Students Get Free Laptops as Presidency Launches Digital Acceleration Programme in EKSU

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students' Engagement, Comrade Sunday Asefon, has charged students in the Southwest to leverage President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's digital education revolution to become self-reliant, innovative and globally competitive.

Asefon gave the charge on Wednesday at the Renewed Hope Students' Leaders' Engagement and Digital Acceleration Programme for the Southwest zone held at Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, where 50 students received free laptops to boost their ICT skills.

The event, which drew participants from tertiary institutions across the Southwest, also saw Asefon honoured with Awards of Excellence by various student bodies.

Asefon described President Tinubu as having the most impactful policies in education and youth development since the advent of democracy in 1999. He said the digital innovation initiative is central to the Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at improving access to functional education, employment and innovation.

He said the world has reached a stage where technological innovation drives the economy, noting that the programme was conceived to make students proficient in deploying technology to unlock their potential for economic prosperity.

Asefon noted that the programme had already benefited students in the South-South, South-East and North-East zones and would be extended to all zones in the spirit of inclusivity.

"Whether you are in Medicine and Surgery, Engineering, Nursing, Education or Social Sciences, digital education can help you create better opportunities and that is why the President Tinubu-led administration does not joke with this initiative," he said.

"As students and future leaders, develop interest in ICT, Artificial Intelligence, get the right skills and recognise opportunities to change your lives. The Renewed Hope agenda is about helping Nigerians realise their dreams and build a better future. Believe in yourself, the future of this country belongs to us."

On interventions in education, Asefon said the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), known as Students' Loan, has benefited about 1.6 million students and helped reduce school dropouts due to financial constraints.

"Once you are qualified and you are a Nigerian, you do not need to know any politician before benefitting from NELFUND. Even the scholarship offered by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund has no political or ethnic colouration. You benefit once you have the qualifications to study at undergraduate, Masters and PhD levels.

"Students who previously struggled to pay tuition fees now have access to government loans with zero interest, while eligible students also receive monthly upkeep.

"The administration is also strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) because education is not only about certificates," he said.

Speaking on the Federal Government's commitment to science and technology, the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Prof. Shaibu Shehu, represented by the Deputy Manager (Scholarship), Mr. Salman Olowo, said over N232 billion had been disbursed as support for students up to PhD level.

He said President Tinubu is keen on producing graduate engineers and technologists who can innovate and build, rather than merely acquire certificates.

A guest lecturer and Head of Department, Computer Science, EKSU, Dr. Oluwatoyin Yerokun, urged beneficiaries to avoid the negative use of ICT, noting that software applications in mechatronics, data science, auto mechanics, architecture, design, arts and sciences are lucrative ventures.

In his remarks, the President of the National Association of University Students (NAUS), Comrade Mitchell Anthony, said digital education is vital to improving graduates' employability, as certificates alone are no longer sufficient.

He said students and youths constitute over 70 per cent of the voting population according to the Independent National Electoral Commission's register, adding that the demography would be mobilised to support President Tinubu.

Dignitaries at the event included the Dean of Students' Affairs, Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Christopher Daramola; Zonal Director, Rural Electrification Agency, Engr. Badejo Dolapo; Ekiti State Director, City Boy Movement, Hon. Oluwafemi Kasali; NANS Southwest Coordinator, Comrade Josiah Adeyemo; and a lecturer at Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Dr. Tope Abiola, among others.