Israel on Wednesday, February 24, 2021, donated an e-learning centre to the Brand Life Vision Foundation (BLVFoundation) to boost virtual teaching and learning for orphans and vulnerable children.
Inaugurating the centre, Mr Yotam Kreiman, Charge d’ Affairs of Israel to Nigeria, said the e-learning centre, equipped with modern computers, would provide digital services for individuals without access to technology.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the centre was established by the Embassy of Israel, Mashav, Israeli aid agency, in collaboration with Skill-G, a Nigerian-based private sector-based organisation.
According to him, with the global effect of the Coronavirus pandemic（COVID-19）, learning has taken different forms as the world adopts a virtual option to compliance with the rules and regulations of staying safe.
“We are putting great emphasis on education and innovation, to create a place where children can learn.
“We are very proud of the wonderful work the Foundation is doing with children and had cooperated with it in the past, to help orphans and vulnerable children.
“We thought it is a perfect opportunity to put this together with the concept of innovation building computer classrooms, where training can happen and children can learn, develop and enhance their skills.
“We want to see the success of the facility incorporated into the children that will come here to study, hopefully to help many future generation of children，” Kreiman said.
Prof. Nuhu Atta, Professor of Political Science/International Relations at Freedom University, Atlanta-Georgia, U.S. in a sideline interview with newsmen, stressed the need for adequate investment in e-learning.
“What we have to do is for embassies like Israel to partner Nigeria, to see how things can be established systematically.
“For processes like this to help provide the skills required for self-reliance among young people as lack of skills can kill any dream.
“We have a lot of certificates, a lot of people with masters and doctorate degree, but they are in their homes.
“They are not employed because they lack the basic skills that are required”, Atta said.
The BLVFoundation Founder and Coordinator, Hajiya Binta Sidi, praised the Federal Government for the efforts it is making to tackle the challenges to e-learning.
According to her, the foundation in partnership with orphanage homes will ensure effective e-learning at the centre.
“This is why it has become important for the Foundation to work with embassies to help the youth, because of those challenges we have in Nigeria.
“Our youths graduate from higher institutions and there are no jobs. So, this is for them to acquire skills and live on their own,”Sidi said.
NAN reports that the centre has 20 advanced computers, a rest room and e-learning materials. (NAN)