Multichoice Launches Ogun Resource Centres

MultiChoice Nigeria last week, commissioned ten additional educational resource centres in Ogun State, bringing to 91 its total number of educational resource centres across Nigeria.
The MultiChoice Resource Centre project is a CSR initiative of the company in which it provides secondary schools with DStv decoders, television sets, stabilizers, video recorders, generators, chairs and tables, a bouquet of six educational channels among others; with a view to enhancing the quality of education through information and communication technologies (ICTs).
At the launch in Abeokuta, Ade Adefeko, MultiChoice’s head of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, said Multichoice is very committed to Nigeria’s educational development, adding that plans are underway to extend the resource centre project to as many schools as possible.
By this token, he said, MultiChoice is creating sustainable relationships with stakeholders all over Nigeria.
Adefeko disclosed that MultiChoice is focused on leveraging its expertise and assets for development and growth of African communities through education. “In line with the strategy, therefore,” he said, “MultiChoice aims to contribute towards the development of Nigerian communities, support human capital development and as well, contribute towards bridging the digital divide.”
He added that information and communication technologies (ICTs) have the potential to enhance and support various developmental goals while also acting as catalyst for improving the quality of education.
Segun Awonusi, Ogun State commissioner for Education, expressed his happiness at the MultiChoice resource centre initiative, thanking all stakeholders who collaborated to make the project a possibility in Ogun State for a job well done. He assured MultiChoice Nigeria and its project partner, SchoolNet Nigeria, that the centres will be well maintained and put to optimal use by all students in the state.
Ronke Bello, assistant national coordinator, SchoolNet Nigeria, said “the MultiChoice resource centre initiative is designed to grant beneficiary schools access to education bouquet on DStv with the aim of integrating the programmes into their curriculum, as this will further enhance the teaching and learning processes in the classrooms.”
Bello informed that SchoolNet Nigeria conducted a 3-day teacher-training programme for selected teachers from the beneficiary schools last month; adding that the teachers, who are now regarded as master-trainers, would have the task of training their colleagues on how to utilize the facilities.
She said that SchoolNet Nigeria has also developed a MultiChoice Resource Centre Educator’s Guide to aid the teachers and schools on the use and maintenance of the resource centres as well as its integration into the curriculum.
Adefeko thanked the Ogun State Government, the SchoolNet Nigeria, and all the principals of beneficiary schools, promising that MultiChoice will not relent in its effort to give back to the community, as plans are ongoing to launch initiatives in other areas, especially in the health sector.
Highlights of the event included a presentation of certificates to 50 selected teachers who have been trained to manage the projects, a short drama sketch from the students of African Church Grammar School titled: “A Fresh Bouquet,” where they demonstrated the impacts of information technology on human development, with a strong applause for the MultiChoice resource centre as a right step in the right direction.