The Opolo-ODA SKRIBE Programme, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at fostering innovation and equipping young minds with the skills needed to thrive in the digital era, has concluded the training of the first cohort of participants with resounding success. The program brought together luminaries from the tech and educational sectors, including Mr. Patrick Akinwuntan, the Chairman of the Technology and Innovation Group of Osun Development Association; Mr. Sunkanmi Oriyomi, the Osun State Manager of the Bank of Industry (BOI);Team Lead of Opolo Global, Mr. Femi Kalejaiye; Mr. Oluwaseun Owojori, Federal Polytechnic, Ayede; and former Director General of Oodua Chambers of Commerce, Mr. David Awotipe; among other stakeholders. The event garnered applause from participants who recognized the invaluable contributions of sponsors and organizers of the 3-month training programme in product design and management.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Patrick Akinwuntan, Chairman of the ODA Technology and Innovation Group, emphasized the critical role of technology in today’s world. He highlighted the need for fostering digital literacy and innovation to prepare the youth for a rapidly changing job market. Akinwuntan stated, “The Osun Development Association is proud to be a major sponsor of the SkRIBE programme, dedicated to nurturing young talents and preparing them to thrive in the digital age. Our commitment to education and innovation aligns perfectly with the goals of the SKRIBE programme.” He therefore congratulated the graduating participants on the milestone and urged them to make their portfolios visible online and conduct themselves professionally in the course of rendering their services. He also advised them to practice the new skills acquired with the fear of God and the ethos of the Omoluabis the state is known for.
In his own welcome speech, the Team Lead of Opolo Global Innovation Limited, Mr. Femi Kalejaiye underscored the significance of partnerships in driving education and technological advancement thanking the ODA and other supporting organization for sponsoring the programme. He stated, “I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Osun Development Association for their unwavering support and commitment to empowering the youth of Osun State. Your vision and dedication to fostering innovation and human capital development have played a pivotal role in the success we are here to celebrate today.”
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Kalejaiye noted that “over the course of the programme, our 19 participants were immersed in the world of product management and design. They were challenged, inspired, and equipped with the tools necessary to thrive in the tech-driven world. And I am proud to share with you that the dedication and hard work of these young individuals have already borne fruit as five of our participants have secured remote internship opportunities with companies in the United States, a testament to their remarkable talent and the quality of training they received.”
In his goodwill message, the State Manager of the BOI, Mr. Sunkanmi Oriyomi, said the support of the bank for the hub is a long term thing with the aim continually nurturing the youths and supporting them to do their business.The Opolo-ODA SKRIBE Programme, spanning 3 months, featured a wide range of training sessions and hands-on activities focused on product design and management. Participants had the opportunity to learn from experts in the tech industry, preparing them to become UI/UX professionals.
Participants expressed their gratitude to the sponsors and organizers. One participant, Badmus Kazeem, shared his enthusiasm, saying, “kudos to the organizers, our instructor and sponsors of this program which has given me more insight on what Product Design is all about and a big opportunity as well to compete strongly in the labour market.”
Another participant, Ayomide Michael Adewuya also recounted his experience during the programme “I can say that my learning experience from this programme has been fantastic, mostly due to the resources provided to us, the prowess of our trainers and the freedom to learn, create and express ourselves in a comfortable environment.” In his own words, Damilare Alabi, another participant, said “the training introduced me to the process of designing a product and the benefit of focusing on the users when designing.”The only female participant, Ogunwande Mobolaji Aishat, described her experience during the programme as awesome. She said “My learning experience was amazing, we were provided with adequate resources and conducive environment to ease our learning and an excellent instructor as well.”
As part of the programme, participants made presentations on their projects. One of them, Johnson Akanbi developed an application that would assist students to pay their school fees through loans via the app. He called it EduLoan. Similarly, Oluwole Arewa, also developed an app that helps people to monitor burnt calories and check body fitness.
SkRIBE, shortened for Skilling Revolutionary Innovators to Build Enterprise, is a cohort-based intensive incubation capacity-building program aimed at incubating fifty thousand 50,000 digital natives and enthusiasts, across the 6 geopolitical zones of Nigeria. This group of individuals will be skilled and empowered on low and mid-code digital skills, with a primary focus on Digital Media Management, Data Science and Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Networks and Information Security (Cybersecurity), Web and Mobile Development, Product Design and Management, Blockchain, Robotics, and STEMI education.
