EMC Flags Off Youth IT Project in Lagos

EMC has begun a “Youth IT Literacy Project” to provide the Iwerekun Community Senior Secondary  School in the Lakowe area of Ibeju Lekki in Lagos State with an IT laboratory and computers.

 As part of the project, EMC employees from across Nigeria and the MEA (Middle East and Africa) region volunteered their time at the 520-student school to install all the donated computers and furniture and complete general maintenance projects.

The donation of computers and construction of an EMC-sponsored computer laboratory is part of the company’s continuing efforts in the region to improve young peoples’ literacy, as well as their access to and use of technology.

The project in Ibeju Lekki is also part of EMC’s commitment to advancing socio-economic empowerment within the global communities in which it operates.

Over the last several years, EMC has launched similar social projects across Africa with the aim of facilitating easy access to information and communication technologies (ICT) and promoting education in under-served communities.

In 2011, EMC employees in the region volunteered their time region help renovate a school in Ghana, while in 2010 EMC continued its collaboration with the Zephaniah Owidi Odongo Memorial Foundation (ZOO MF) to support the ZOO MF Rural ICT Project by building several computer labs in Kenyan schools and community centers and having employees donate their used, refurbished computers to furnish them.

EMC recognises the importance of ICT and education in empowering youth and in driving socio-economic development, and is committed to driving real transformation in Nigeria to complement its growing business footprint in the country.

The company views this project as the first of many future community investments focused on ICT enablement in Nigeria.

Senator ‘Gbenga Ashafa, the Lawmaker representing the Lagos East Senatorial District in Lagos, Nigeria  said the ‘Youth IT Literacy Project’ supported by EMC will complement existing facilities for easy and cost effective access to knowledge for youth in the area.  We are excited about the future prospects for our youth and view this initiative as a driving force to improve the technology skills desperately needed by our locally-based corporate organizations.  This is local capacity building at its best”.

Mr. Rasheed Ola Jimoh, EMC’s Regional Manager for West Africa “We hope that the “Youth IT Literacy Project” will be an important catalyst for the development of young Nigerians as ICT skills are essential to their professional advancement and success. Young Nigerians starting from secondary school are leveraging social media to connect, communicate, develop and innovate. At EMC, we are pleased to initiate the first of several such projects in Nigeria and we look forward to extending this initiative further in the near future.”

Mr. Fady Richmany, Regional Director for Emerging Africa at EMC  “As a leading global IT company, we recognise that the long-term viability of our business depends on educated and prosperous societies from which we can attract the best employees to serve our customers and partners. Our involvement with the “Youth IT Literacy Project” brings this important EMC programme to Nigeria and will contribute to driving positive social change in the area.”