Oando Foundation, an independent non-profit organization unveiled a new Information Communication Technology (ICT) Centre at Archbishop Taylor Primary School in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria and its partnership with the U.S. State Department’s Global Partnership Initiative, LIONS@FRICA, CoderDojo and the Hello World Foundation to introduce coding to Oando Adopted Schools.
Oando Foundation was established to support the Nigerian Government in meeting the Millennium Development Goals, in particular the second goal; achievement of universal primary education by 2015. The thrust of the Foundation’s intervention involves identifying, adopting, renovating dilapidated public schools and improving the quality of learning nationwide; thereby creating model institutions for children. One of its key components is ensuring each school is equipped with an ICT Class to enhance the learning capabilities of pupils.
The pilot centre just completed in Lagos boasts desktop computers, laptop, projector, printer, TV and DVD player and is powered by solar energy. The centre will enhance the learning capabilities of pupils while facilitating their exposure to computer education and other technology as they connect with the rest of the world via the use of the Internet.
To further boost the impact of the ICT Centre, Oando Foundation has partnered with the U.S. State Department’s Global Partnership Initiative, LIONS@FRICA, CoderDojo and the Hello World Foundation to launch a new initiative called AfriCoderDojo to teach 21st century computer coding skills to students between 7-17 years old. The partnership is based on the global CoderDojo scheme, and relies on a volunteer network of implementers and mentors to teach youth the basics of coding.
‘Technology is set to be the preferred way of learning in the future and it is estimated that 95% of the workforce in coming years will require ICT skills. At Oando Foundation, we realize the importance of technology being introduced at a very early age and how it can be used to improve education. Therefore, we plan to equip all our adopted schools with ICT facilities, enrich the ICT Curriculum in schools by introducing coding and training the teachers on the use of ICT.” comments Tokunboh Durosaro, Director, Oando Foundation.
“What’s so exciting about this partnership is that it promotes hands-on, world-class coding skills to Africa’s next generation of innovators,” said Andrew O’Brien, Special Representative of the Global Partnership Initiative at the U.S. Department of State. “We are proud to be part of an initiative that will go a long way toward ensuring young people have the necessary skills, education, and drive to compete in tomorrow’s integrated marketplace.”
In addition, Microsoft Nigeria is supporting our initiative by training teachers in our adopted schools to ensure they have the relevant ICT Skills and certification to aid effective transfer of knowledge to pupils.
The new ICT Centre is one of six centres Oando Foundation plans to establish in 2014. We plan to establish ICT centres in the following States; Cross River, Katsina, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Kaduna, and Ogun.
About Oando Foundation:
Oando Foundation, established in 2011, is an independent charity launched by Oando PLC, one of Africa’s leading indigenous energy solutions providers. The Foundation aims to support the Nigerian Government to meet the Millennium Development Goals to achieve Universal primary education. Its mission is to radically improve the quality of teaching and learning in Nigerian schools and communities by ensuring access to world class basic education systems.
Oando PLC currently provides 1 % of its annual pretax profit to fund the Foundation. Oando Foundation has also established strategic partnerships with government, the private sector, international development partners, NGOs and civil society to fulfill its goals and objectives.
Oando Foundation has so far adopted 47 schools across 20 states, Adamawa, AkwaIbom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, FCT Abuja, Kaduna, Katsina, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, and Taraba States. The Foundation plans to adopt 100 schools by 2015; directly affect over 200,000 lives by ensuring over 100,000 pupils have access to quality primary education; broaden the capacity of over 4,000 teachers, award scholarships to over 2,560 pupils to reduce direct and indirect costs of education to students. Learn more about the Foundation at oandofoundation.org.
About afriCoderDojo:
afriCoderDojo is a brand new partnership initiative to help teach 21st century coding skills to Africa’s youth. The concept is simple: afriCoderDojo teaches young people to code, develop websites, apps, programs, games and more while having fun. The partnership is based on the global CoderDojo movement and relies on a volunteer network of implementers and mentors to teach youth the basics of coding anywhere there is a computer and an internet connection. To learn more about afriCoderDojo: www.africa.co/africoderdojo.
