Bayelsa govt. trains 100 secondary school girls on technology entrepreneurship

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

The Bayelsa Government has commenced the training of 100 girls selected from its Model Secondary Schools on Technology Entrepreneurship that will enable them to deploy technology to solve problems in Bayelsa.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of the three months training for the 100 girls in Yenagoa, the Executive Secretary of the Bayelsa State Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF), Mrs Alice Atuwo, said that the benefits of the programme are enormous.

She further explained that the EDTF had earlier carried out the training of “Coding and Robotics” for 103 students in SS1 and SS2 during the last Summer Camping Programme in October 2022 but this time the program is being funded by Odyssey Educational Foundation and that it is free of charge.

“After participating in a Technovation programme like this, it would arouse your interest in technology leadership.

“A greater percentage of you the beneficiaries will enrol in more computer-related courses in your schools.

“Others can go on to develop business plans which you can present at business events, meet with world business leaders and eventually start your own businesses.

“You can also go on to support the next cohorts of Technovation Girls in return. The end result is that Technovation changes girls’/students’ lives for good and society is better for it.

“This is what Odyssey Education Foundation is introducing to 100 girls in our Model Secondary Schools,” she said.

She expressed delight and appreciation to the foundation, considering the fact that jobs are scarce and most secondary school leavers are unemployable.

The Executive Secretary urged the girls to take the training seriously, stating that the mentors will meet with them at their schools.

According to her, since 2010, more than 39,000 girls from more than 100 countries have gone through Technovation programmes and have learnt to create “Apps” to solve various problems and/or produced mobile app startups.

She appealed to parents and leaders of various organs and organisations to encourage and support the girls in any way to succeed and become proud members of the families, communities and state.

Speaking earlier, Stella Uzockukwu-Dennis, the Program Director of Odyssey Educational Foundation said that the training is aimed at bringing Bayelsa up to speed with the constantly changing digital world.

She said the programme provides technological knowledge and that it is basically for ages eight to 18.

The Programme Director said it also teaches beneficiaries how to solve problems using technology and it will empower the girl child so that she can make money and develop a business plan and how to start it.

On his part, the commissioner for Education Mr Gentle Emelah, said the programme can make the Bayelsa girl child to be a breadwinner for her family.

He urged them to take advantage of the training as it is a life changer, and that the government is interested in their future and wellbeing.