L-R: Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; his Deputy, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka; and a beneficiary, Master Sulaiman Maitu, during the distribution of free Laptop computers to Teachers and students in the State's Public Schools and Specialised computers and instructional materials to Special Schools, in Ikere Ekiti on Wednesday, March 14, 2012.
Ekiti State today made history in the education sector in the country as Governor Kayode Fayemi distributed 11,000 units of laptop computers to students and teachers of public secondary schools in the state.
The 11,000 laptops handed out at an impressive ceremony held at the African Church Comprehensive High School, Ikere-Ekiti, marked the first phase of distribution of a total 33,000 units of laptop computers to students and teachers under the administration’s e-School Project.
The project is being driven by the Fayemi-led administration in partnership with electronic giants, Samsung West Africa Limited and MICROSOFT, a global trademark in software technology.
Besides the laptops, the Governor also flagged off the distribution of 100,000 school bags to students in the state and special computers to the physically-challenged students to enable them enjoy the benefits of Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
Fayemi explained that the gesture was in fulfilment of his campaign promise to make laptops available on the desk of each student of public secondary schools in the state before year 2014.
The Governor noted that many people including politicians and members of the public doubted the possibility of achieving the feat given the limited resources available to the state adding that the exercise is now a dream come true.
Fayemi who was assisted by his deputy, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka and the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin, to distribute the laptops and school bags, urged the students to take advantage of the various instructional materials and the conducive learning environment the government has provided to excel in their academic pursuit.
“The future is in your hands, I urge you to take it, be the best that you can be. On our part as government, we will continue to provide you with the necessary support to ensure you realise your dreams.”, the Governor stated.
The solar powered laptop computers, which will be distributed in all secondary schools in 16 local government areas of the state have features such as webcam, three USB ports, power pack, dual soft education software, Norton anti virus, skype, adope, Microsoft Access 2010, Microsoft Excel 2010, Microsoft Info path Designer 2010 and Microsoft Power point 2010, among others.
Governor Fayemi disclosed that Samsung West Africa Limited has agreed to establish a Computer Assembly Plant dedicated to sustainability of the scheme and ICT goals of his administration.
The governor pointed out that the distribution of laptops to teachers and students of public schools was intended to empower them to compete favourably with their colleagues in other climes with a confidence to outshine them.
With the realization of the goal, Fayemi said that the move to make Ekiti the ICT capital of Nigeria has commenced to complement the launch of Ekiti Digital Platform, biometric payroll, e-payment IGR system and laying of fibre-optic cables in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
He said, “Our government has gone this far to ensure that everything is done to make us stand shoulders higher than other states by recreating our feat in the areas of academic excellence that our land was in the time past identified with.
“This is why it has become very imperative for those involved in the teaching and learning process to be computer-literate in line with global standard of knowledge acquisition.
“Indeed, given the huge investment on this computer for all secondary school students’ initiative, some might even deem it as a waste. I would like to assure those who might harbour such erroneous impression that nothing could be further from the truth.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Eniola Ajayi, said the exercise demonstrated a huge commitment of the administration to turn around the education sector and empower students and teachers in public schools.
She disclosed that government has approved a sum of N100 million for the provision of laboratory facilities in all public secondary schools in the state while renovation of schools had commenced.
The Accounts Manager of Samsung West Africa Limited, Mr. Fauno Nadah, said the feat achieved by Ekiti State Government is already making waves in South Korea.
He said the service centre to be located in the state was a commitment by the corporation to sustain the project and support the government to pursue its ICT goals and take education to greater heights.
The Director, Development Platform of MICROSOFT in West, East and Central Africa, Mr. Dele Akinsade said the organization would install developer software on the laptops.
He added that applications that can assist blind students would be installed on the Braille computers given to them.
Last modified: March 14, 2012
