By Sarah NEGEDU
The FCT administration has pledged its commitment towards encouraging digital literacy among adult learners in the territory by improving access to Information Communications Technology and other e-learning modules.
The FCT permanent secretary, Mr Olusade Adesola, made the pledge at the commissioning of an ICT Centre and Flag off of a Digital Literacy initiative launched by the Mass Education Department of the FCT Education Secretariat.
He said the FCTA will continue to give adequate support to Information Communications Technology and Digital Literacy in all its Mandates Secretariat and offices in order to enable staff meet up with the demands of modern realities.
The permanent secretary, who was represented by the director, Human Resources, Dr. Bashir Mohammed, expressed the optimism that the centre will foster creativity and teach digital skills to all levels of learners especially the adult learners in the informal setting while enhancing their ability to use computers in educationally productive way.
He noted that the Digital Literacy programme will further equip the learners with a new mindset to critically evaluate the world around them while boosting the learners’ engagement as well as improve the quality of their learning.
Adesola also observed that the initiatives has the potential of generating revenue as it will serve as a CBT Centre for the Joint Admission and Matriculation Examination.
In his remarks, the Secretary for Education, Sani Dahir El-katuzu said, information and Communication Technology is the key to achieving every goals and agenda of the global.
Represented by the director, Admin and Finance, Education Secretariat, Mallam Leramoh Abdurazaq, he said the centre was constructed to fast track the digital education processes in the department for the benefit of the FCT youth, women and adults living in FCT.
In her welcome address, the director FCT Department of Mass Education, Hajia Hajarat Alayande, said, “the choice of the FCT administration to invest in ICT for educational development will strategically provide robust access to e-learning and promote effective participation of FCT in a globalized digital economy.
Highlighting more on the importance of ICT, the director added that “it is, however, unacceptable for anyone to be left behind in the pursuit of knowledge of ICT which connects the world. ICT thus provides opportunities in different strata of our lives be it education (e-learning), health (e-health services), e-commerce, e-businesses just to mention a few of our endeavours.” she said.
“Without any iota of doubt, this ICT hall of the Department of Mass Education will meet up with the contemporary challenges and trends of information technology because it will enable our facilitators and learners to be up to date with innovations in Science and Technology which is the essential ingredients of a sustainable economy.
She commended the Secretary for Education for his commitments towards the project and readiness to achieve the JAMB standard such that the remodelling process is ongoing in the 2021 procurement processes.
