Ambassador Dr. Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu, Chairman of the Odu'a Investment Foundation Advisory Board, has appealed for increased investment and collaboration from regional governments and corporate partners to scale up youth-focused digital empowerment initiatives across South-West Nigeria.
Speaking on Friday in Ibadan during the 2026 Showcase Event of the Byte Busters Coding Club, Awolowo Dosumu highlighted the remarkable expansion of the coding initiative, which now spans all six South-West states, noting that participating students are demonstrating exceptional ingenuity by developing technological solutions tailored to local societal challenges in education, agriculture, commerce, and public safety.
What is the broader vision behind the DEFINED Project?
The initiative forms a core component of the DEFINED Project, an educational intervention designed to prepare young Africans for a digital economy dominated by artificial intelligence and advanced computing systems. Project leadership, including Project Director Professor Seun Kolade and Assistant Project Manager Temilorun Okediji, was commended for sustaining the momentum of the programme alongside participating educators, mentors, and school administrators.
In addition to student-focused training, the Foundation has integrated a Digital Literacy Training for Teachers programme utilizing a train-the-trainer model. This approach aims to build long-term pedagogical capacity by providing classroom instructors with essential digital competencies, ensuring that technological integration remains sustainable across regional institutions.
How can stakeholders support the expansion of digital literacy?
Despite the notable achievements recorded since the inaugural showcase, Awolowo Dosumu cautioned against complacency, stressing that many pupils in underserved communities still lack access to foundational digital tools. She urged the six owner states, corporate organizations, philanthropists, and alumni associations to pool resources and expand opportunities for talented youths throughout the region.
Addressing the young coders directly, she encouraged them to maintain their curiosity, continue experimenting with software development, and remain confident in their capacity to shape the future of technology in Nigeria and beyond.