" ITREALMS: Ajegunle.org empowers 106

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Ajegunle.org empowers 106

A total of 106 youths have been trained on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) through the intervention of Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) under its project Ajegunle.org.

Programme Manager for Ajegunle.org at PIN, Mr. Ugochukwu Nwosu said that the organisation is committed toward building upon the success of the first set of graduates, who have been successfully trained based on positive peer pressure concept, just as applications are now being accepted for another batch of 25 to resume training next month.

This, he said, is in efforts of PIN to transform Ajegunle a Lagos suburb based on building the success of the first set of graduates who have grown to 106 peers in basic ICT knowledge.

The modules, he said, have been modified to accommodate an additional week of ICT training as well as more support towards the development of a realistic business plan.

According to him, three of the graduates have completed their internship with the United Kingdom Trade and Investment Unit (UKTI) of the British Deputy High Commission in Lagos, where they were exposed to work ethics, international trade, networking opportunities as well as an opportunity to apply the skills they acquired during the Ajegunle.org capacity building programme.

“Two of them have jointly started a Forex Academy in Ajegunle, after receiving a free Forex training at Hands on Institute of Information Technology (HiiT) Lagos,” he said.

Aligned with the desire to increase the number of available internship positions, he said, that a breakfast meeting was hosted for the project by the UKTI in February, where eight (8) firms signed up to provide opportunities for Ajegunle.org graduates.

Nwosu added that following the breakfast meeting, four interns resumed at Afrinvest WA on April 1, two others will resume internship at Lornamead Africa in April, two would resume at Virgin Atlantic this month and yet another four are being prospected to get a resumption date at DHL Nigeria office.

The UK High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Bob Dewar, he said, was very impressed with the project and posted a blog on the day he met with the PIN team, just as the a new intern also resumed at the UKTI on Friday, March 14, 2008.

The executive director, PIN, Mr. Gbenga Sesan, stressed that Ajegunle.org has received tremendous media coverage and has been presented in various for a across the world (Uganda, Ethiopia, Egypt, United Kingdom and Switzerland) as a case study on how ICTs could be used to aid development in underserved communities.

He also said that the project has been accepted as one of the projects that will compete in the British Council/Youngster Foundation Top12 Youth Works competition.

Emphasising that Ajegunle.org is currently accepting applications for a new set of 25 trainees, whose training would commence on May 12, 2008.

Paradigm Initiative Nigeria is a social enterprise seeking to help deliver ICT for socio-economic opportunities in Nigeria.

Champion Infotel recalls that PIN recently consulted for Harvard University, International Telecommunications Union, Computer Aid International and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, among others.

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