From Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki
The Commonwealth Telecommunication Organisation (CTO) has launched an electronic library (e-library) in Ebonyi State which is christened the Abakaliki Girls-in-ICT - Information and Communication Technologies.
The inauguration of the Abakaliki Girls-In-ICT Project was held on Friday at the Model Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Ugwuachara in the Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Speaking through zoom during the inaugural ceremony, the Secretary General of CTO, Benedict Lewis, congratulated the coordinator of the ICT project in the state, Patrick Edeh and however, and urged the students to utilize the opportunity to develop their potential.
She noted that ICT gives rise to development as it focuses on delivering information and communication to people around the globe through computer technology devices in everyday life.
The CTO Secretary-General observed that a child girl has suffered set back in having access to develop themselves in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
She expressed confidence that with the project many girl children from the state would be encouraged in no distant future to modify themselves and urged them to shun low self-esteem in society while pursuing their visions.
Also speaking through zoom, the Chief Executive Officer of Restore the Sense of I Can, Raji Randmass and the former CTO Secretary General, Sholar Taylor equally urged the beneficiaries of the programme to make good of the opportunity.
They noted that the project would be made effective in the participatory country and expressed their readiness to make Abakaliki, the hub of ICT in Southeast Nigeria.
On his part, the State Coordinator of the Project, Patrick Edeh said that the programme was initiated to make Abakaliki the ICT hub of southeast Nigeria.
He recalled that Abakaliki people especially the girl children have been lagging in education, especially in ICT compliance and other related professions.
He said the project would change the ugly narratives of the Abakaliki, noting that in no distant future, "when you need anything in ICT you refer to Abakaliki.
"That's why we are working hard to make Abakaliki the ICT hub of the southeast, we should get this child early, and groom them into the ICT profession so that they will take over the future."
In her address, the Principal of the Model Comprehensive Girls Secondary School, Ugwachara in Ebonyi LGA of Ebonyi State, Mrs Comfort Nnenna Aniagor commended the CTO and Governor David Umahi-led government for their contributions towards improving the education of girl children in the state.
She, however, noted that the academic activities of the school are in confrontation with huge challenges as according to her, the institution needs re-roofing and equipping the school laboratory and the classroom blocks blown off by the wind."
The Principal requested the provision of toilet facilities for teachers' and students' convenience, office chairs and tables for teachers, recruitment of security men to guide the school, and fencing of the school and its hostel, among others.
The students and the beneficiaries of the programme through the Deputy Senior Prefect, Miss Nneji Moria thanked the CTO, state government and the school management for availing them of the opportunity and promised to make good use of it for societal advancement.
Highlights of the event were a welcome song by the students, and talks on the place of a girl child in the development of our society by the founder of Tomorrow is a Girl Child Initiative - Lucy Uzodimma Ogodo who told the beneficiaries that every girl child has a chance to improve herself, stressing that the project can take her afar to exploit future, among other contributions.
