Ogun Students To Get Free Data For e-Learning

•Gov Abiodun

From Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta

Governor Dapo Abiodun has disclosed that Ogun state is partnering telecommunications service providers to make free internet service  available to public secondary and primary school students in the state.

Abiodun said the deal is meant to give free data to students, provide them access to e - learning materials such as digital textbooks, audio textbooks and broaden their knowledge through technology.

The governor made this known at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, the state capital, during an event organised to mark this year edition of the International Students' Day yesterday.

The governor who spoke through the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Abayomi Arigbabu, recalled that  the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic had made the adoption of virtual learning inevitable as a learning platform.

He said the deployment of smart phones and tablets for e - learning coupled with the provision of free data would go a long way in assisting students even when they are not in school.

The governor noted that the new teaching method made possible by technology, would improve the standard of education and increase students' enrollment.

He said: "During the lockdown when it wasn't possible for us to come to school, we introduced the Ogun digital class. What we are doing now is to improve on that to the extent that more and more students will be able to benefit from it. 

"We are working a programme through which telecoms providers will assist will assist so that students can have free data to be able to access digital materials.

"We are looking into a situation whereby students can go online to access materials and they can learn without necessarily having to bother about data."

And speaking on the theme of the celebration: "Harnessing The Articulacy and Vibrancy of Nigeria Student Leaders for Larger Politics," the Special Assistant to the Governor on Students Matters, Mr. Adeyemi Azeez, said this year's celebration seeks to harness the potentials of the students into the larger polity,  mentor the students ahead of future responsibilities and improve on the good legacies laid down by the state's forebears.

"This gathering target to mentor our students and spur them into critical understanding of the level of preparedness they should attain to sustain and improve on the good legacies of our forebearers in the political atmosphere. 

"We must tow the path and impact the larger society. This feat will be achieved by actively participating in the various sessions of these engagements to be handled by persons of notable leadership acumen like His Excellency, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, the former governor of Ogun State, among many others," Azeez said.