Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy’s fellows unveil digital hub to bridge tech gap

 

 

The Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy’s fellows has unveiled a state-of-the-art digital hub and revamped library in Alapere Community Senior High School in Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State, aimed at expanding access to digital learning.

The two days event commenced on Tuesday with the commissioning of the organisation’s flagship educational infrastructure and capacity building project in Kosofe, themed; ‘Bridging the Digital Divide: Empowering for Global Competitiveness.’

Titlope Anifowoshe, team leader of speaking at the commissioning of the library and an ICT hub, said the vision is to nurture future software engineers, lawyers, architects, and entrepreneurs, who will be globally competitive.

“This library is not just a room filled with books or the hub filled with computers, they’re filled with possibilities, a place where we’re going to have future software engineers, lawyers, architects, and entrepreneurs, that can surpass the equals globally.

“We hope this ICT centre will not only prepare students for their exam, but for a digital economy where knowledge is a new currency; besides, we hope this bookshop will continue long after today, because this is just a beginning,” she said.

In addition, Anifowoshe said, “we were fueled by the conviction that Lagos has given us too much for us to leave without giving something back.”

Adepeju Salami, the media & communications lead, disclosed that the strategic community intervention was geared towards transforming a previously underutilised public school library space into a state of the art, solar-powered digital learning hub.

“The comprehensive facility features a fully remodeled ICT laboratory, a refurbished traditional library, and a structured book reading club, creating a hybrid environment where technology and literature coexist to elevate public education,” she said.

Margaret Obewi, the principal of Alapere Community Senior High School, expressed her delight over the digital hub and revamped library.

“Today is one of the happiest days of my over 30 years in the service of Lagos State, I’m glad that I have this kind of thing happening in my time; it’s exciting,” she said.

Obewi revealed that the school is getting over 30 computer systems and the library stock with contemporary books, which she believes would help the students excel in their studies.

We’re in a global village now, everyone must have things to do with the digital system.

“In few years, exams will be handled in the CBT centres, so having this kind of computers in the school with the solar system to power it is like we are preparing ourselves for the future.

“Besides, the students will gain access to the world by going into the computer, exploring, and finding out many things that will be beneficial to them in life beyond school,” she said.

Aluko Emmanuel, SS2 student, who wants to study Computer Science in future, said the revamped library and digital hub makes him excited and wants to always go to the library

“When I first got to this school, I was depressed, because there’s no books in the library to read, but with the intervention of the Upgrade Team, I’m excited.

“The tech hub will help me a lot because I’m a graphic designer, it’ll help perfect my skills, I believe I’ll achieve a lot with this,” he noted.

Another SS2 student, also expressed her delight for the renovated library and tech hub.

“I feel very happy because now I can go the hub and library, and I can read comfortably unlike before when there’s no good ventilation, no air conditioning.

“With a conducive learning environment, I can go there, read and assimilate well,” she said.

The digital hub is positioned to serve between 150 and 300 public secondary school students annually in its pilot phase. The initial deployment specifically targets the incoming 2026/2027 West African Examinations Council and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board student of the school, ensuring they have immediate access to preparatory resources before their official examinations.

This educational intervention directly addresses a critical structural challenge within the Lagos State public school system. A combination of a declining reading culture and limited exposure to essential digital literacy tools has historically placed public school students at a disadvantage.

This academic divide is highlighted by national metrics, including the West African Senior School Certificate Examination pass rates which reached a low of 38.32 percent in 2025.

Furthermore, public school students face significant hurdles when attempting critical, high-stakes computer-based testing assessments, such as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board examinations, often without having any prior practical experience operating computer systems.

The newly established hub serves as a practical, scalable, and replicable bridge to eliminate these digital hurdles.

The commissioning ceremony attracted key decision-makers and stakeholders from across both the public and private sectors in Lagos State.

Among the notable dignitaries in attendance were AbdulBaki Ladi- Balogun, the general manager of the Lagos State Ferry Services; Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade,  the executive secretary of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy,  and Dele Osinowo,  former executive chairman of Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area, among others.