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By Bianca Iboma-Emefu
As part of its effort to address the needs of youths living in Lagos slums, Orile Iganmu Progressive Association (OIPA) established a free computer training institution 15 years ago, in order to give them a better life.
•Best graduating students Taiwo Olalekan with mother and mgt of the institution
“NGOs play a crucial role in mobilizing and empowering slum-based youths to change their destinies. There is need to understand the unique challenges faced by slummers, including limited access to education, healthcare and employment opportunities.
“Orile Iganmu, unarguably, is of the worst slum settlements in Lagos. Residents of these ghettos live under terrible sanitary conditions. The drainage channels are usually blocked with heaps of refuse, which cause flooding at the slightest downpour.
“These ghettos provide a good hideout for criminals, while the death toll caused by water-borne diseases is usually very high. Life in a typical Lagos slum means different things to different residents, depending on the social divide they belong to,” OIPA declared.
But some youths who were born and raised up in these slums vowed not to allow their environment and upbringing affect their destiny. They took it up and charted a new course for their future.
Gathering under the umbrella of OIPA, the youths said they would not allow their disadvantaged environment and upbringing to stop them from attaining the lofty heights they have set for themselves. To them, change is possible, which explains why they chose to go global.
The chairman of the board of trustees of the association, Kingsley Omose, said that making Orile youths to be global leaders was one of the core mandates of the NGO. This was a statement he made during the 15th anniversary and 30th convocation of OIPA free ICT training and development programme held recently in Lagos, at the Nwragwu Nnewi Hall in Orile-Iganmu.
He said: “My first visit to Orile in 2007 exposed me to the challenges of this community. There was no accessible road, and also practically no economy. A lot of people, especially the youths, were disadvantaged. So, our focus centred on empowering the youth birthed this free computer training.
“Looking back 15 years after, and having had over 4,000 youths being empowered in various skills, we can say we are making headway. This is because some of our alumni are doing great, within and globally.
“Also, we are mostly interested in building traits of global leadership in them, such as having good character and the spirit of persistence. We are setting a foundation that, if there are challenges, they see them as doors of opportunity. Instead of seeing themselves as victims, they can take responsibility and then aspire to greater heights.”
On his part, the president of OIPA, Mr. Omobode Medale, expressed delight over the consistency of running the free computer programme as he commended the efforts of partners such as JOTNA Nigeria Limited, BASF West Africa Limited, and Kinabuti, among others.
Medale said: “We are grateful to God for His faithfulness and consistency in the last 15 years. We started with four programmes that included desktop publishing, computer engineering, graphic design and website development.
“However, next session, we will introduce JavaScript, Python programming, and App development.”
On the introduction of programmes such as AI and Web 3, Madale who appreciated the support of Jotna Nigeria for sponsoring one of their instructors to learn an advanced digital skill, noted that OIPA was working to include these employable skills if more funding and support came.
Other side attraction at the events included the launch of OIPA television and a debate competition with the theme: ‘Should parent be allowed to choose a career for their children or not?’
Awards presentation was made to the overall best-graduating student, Olalekan Taiwo, a 15-year old SS1, Science student of Eric Moore Senior High School. The second and third-best graduating students in this year’s free computer training programme, Taiwo Samiat and Olalekan Kehinde, carted home the prizes.
Mrs. Oludare Faith Adejumoke got the noble award of best behaved student while Okoro Chibueze clinched the punctuality award.
