By Stella Obi
In a fast-evolving world where digitization is gaining significance and contributing to the growth of economies, experts have stressed the need to build a new Africa based on technology.
Speaking at the GetBundi
networking event with the theme, “Indigenizing Digital Skills Education: A
Pathway to Africa's Development", held in Lagos on Friday, the Founder/CEO
of GetBundi Education Technology, Barr. Osita Oparaugo, observed that as the
world embraces tech and digitization, the demands for individuals proficient in
digital skills have continued to surge.
Oparaugo opined that despite
the awareness and increase of the digitization era, the African continent falls
short of individuals equipped with digital skills.
He identified outdated
curriculum, lack of education infrastructure, and limited training
opportunities as some factors contributing to the digital skills gap.
Oparaugo said that GetBundi is
a STEM and digital skills education technology platform designed to deliver
high quality, engaging and accessible digital skill courses.
According to him the aim of
GetBundi is to make STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) and
digital skill courses for everyone across Africa accessible using technology.
He said the platform targets to educate 20million Nigerians.
The Founder/CEO of GetBundi
informed that the digital courses will be taught in Pidgin English and
indigenous languages not excluding the conventional English language adding
that the platform is not meant to replace the traditional secondary schools but
to add to it.
In his remarks the Director
General National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu
Abdullahi Inuwa, underscored the importance of training Nigerian youths in
digital skills.
The DG NITDA who was
represented by Dr Aristotle Onumo informed that the Agency has programmes which
are strategically designed to propel Nigeria towards achieving 70 percent
digital literacy by 2027.
Inuwa said that the Agency is
fostering digital literacy and cultivating talents, building a robust
technology research ecosystem, strengthening policy implementation and legal
framework and promoting inclusive access to digital infrastructure and
services.
Contributing, the Minister of
Women Affairs Barr. Uju Kennedy Ohaneye commended GetBundi for the networking
meeting adding that it will help address the gender disparity while building a
society in digital skills.
In his speech the Deputy High
Commissioner/ Head of Trade, Canadian High Commission Nigeria, Zaya Kuyena
Dindembolo while saying that digital education means a lot in driving the
ecosystem, lauded the efforts of GetBundi towards the digital skills education.
Introducing the TechSis 2024,
the Executive Secretary of GetBundi Education Foundation, Dr Ann Agbakoba,
informed that the programme is focused on Web development and Data analytics,
which targets to train 1000 Nigerian women in partnership with Federal Ministry
of Women Affairs as partners sponsoring 300 women from the six geopolitical
zones in Nigeria.
Dr Agbakoba charged all to
support the TechSis 2024 which will commence in July so as to unlock a future
where Africans regardless of their background has the tools and resources to
thrive in the digital economy.
She called on leaders and
policy makers to ensure adequate budgetary allocation towards education
especially STEM and Digital Technology.
In her welcome speech the
Course Coordinator for GetBundi Education, Mrs Juliet Ijei said that the
platform seeks to transform the educational landscape in Nigeria and Africa and
to empower future generations to thrive in an ever – evolving world.
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