The Odu’a Investment Foundation (OIF), the charity arm of Odu’a Investment Company Limited (OICL), has embarked on an exciting journey with the launch of the Byte Busters after-school Coding Club in Oyo State. This initiative, part of the DEFINED project, is tailored for public secondary schools across the 137 local governments in the South West. The pilot phase is currently in motion in the six southwestern states, featuring three centers per state and engaging approximately 200 Byte Busters per state. OIF has been working diligently with state education ministries and other stakeholders to identify the best facilities for these clubs.
In Oyo State, the Byte Busters Club kicked off at Government College Ibadan (GCI), one of the designated centers, enrolling 100 students from an overwhelming 500 expressions of interest. OIF's commitment to equality is evident as the club offers equal admission opportunities, irrespective of academic performance. Prospective members underwent admission assessments to gauge their interest and problem-solving skills. Those shortlisted then participated in baseline assessments to evaluate their coding and ICT knowledge before the coding classes began.
The Director of the DEFINED Project Professor Seun Kolade of Sheffield Business School, expressed gratitude towards Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, Chair of the Odu'a Investment Foundation, for her unwavering support: “Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu and the OIF board have been instrumental in securing key stakeholders across the six states for this project. We extend our thanks to the governors, commissioners, and ministry directors for their cooperation and support. Together, we aim to expand our reach to more schools and local government areas in the coming months.”
Project officers Mr. Temilorun Okediji and Mr. 'Yinka Babalola shared their experiences: “Over the past six months, we've visited more than 16 communities across the six states. The enthusiasm and support from the ministries of education have been overwhelming. Most importantly, the excitement on the faces of the students and their teachers is heartwarming. This project is timely, and we are grateful to Odu'a Investment Company Limited for establishing OIF to lead this initiative. We also thank Mrs. Abiola Ajayi, the company secretary, for her unwavering support. We look forward to the next phases of this project.”
The Byte Busters initiative aims to simplify the complexities of technology and coding for young minds. The name "Byte Busters" merges "Byte," the fundamental unit of computing, with "Busters," signifying the mission to break down technological barriers. By doing so, OIF aspires to empower children to not only use technology but to master it, fostering a generation of innovative, tech-savvy problem solvers.
For more updates on the DEFINED Project, visit: https://defined.odif.ng
