Kunle Adelabu
Sen. Tokunbo Abiru and wife in group photograph with top corporate executives during their visit to his innovative laboratory in Ikorodu.
The initiative of the Senator representing the Lagos East Senatorial District, Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, FCA, aimed at equipping and empowering youths in his district with technological, business and digital skills, has received commendations from boardroom gurus and top corporate executives.
The banks and corporate executives who visited the Senator Abiru Innovative Laboratory (SAIL) in Ikorodu on Monday, August 29, 2022, to assess the quality of training, faculty and facility for possible partnership and employment opportunities for participants, gave the commendations.
SAIL, an initiative of the Tokunbo Abiru Constituency Team (TACT) Foundation, is a dedicated innovation and tech lab that is providing relevant technology, business and digital skills to tech enthusiasts and young entrepreneurs across the Lagos East Senatorial District.
The Managing Director of Sterling Bank, Mr Abubakar Suleiman, Deputy Managing Director Access Bank, Mr. Victor Etuokwu, Chairman, ChapelHillDenham Group, Mr Olawale Edun, Senior Banking Advisor, Retail Banking, Access Bank, Robert Giles, Head Payment Systems, Access Bank, Kemi Okusanya and Chief Executive Officer, Alpha African Advisory, Sanyade Okoli, were among corporate executives that visited SAIL.
Senator Abiru, who was in the company of his admirable wife, Mrs Feyisola Abiru, brought the top executives to SAIL to assess the quality of training, faculty and facility for possible partnership and employment opportunities for participants.
According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Senator on Media & Publicity, Mr Enitan Olukotun, the accomplished individuals during the tour, addressed the Tech Talent Class numbering about 30 participants who have been learning software engineering – HTLM, CSS, JavaScript, React, Node JS, & Mondo DB, free of charge for the past five months. These participants get free standard lunch and transportation allowance whenever they come to class.
The Executives, who were impressed by the ideology of SAIL, especially the vigour and creative leadership style of Senator Abiru, pledged to support SAIL by giving employment opportunities to outstanding talents for tech related openings in their various corporations.
A former Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, Mr Olawale Edun, alongside his wife, Mrs Adwoa Edun, also spoke on the need for participants to cherish relationships as they move up in life.
He specifically commended young ladies who showed interest in technology. According to him, what the Senator has done is called shared prosperity.
Edun, an accomplished economist and international Finance expert, described Senator Abiru as a gold standard for measuring qualitative legislative representation.
Dr Tayo Oyedeji, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Insight Redefini, in his remarks, said Senator Abiru has made a huge impact in the lives of constituents, especially the youths, adding that the quality of faculty is world class.
“What you are learning are globally relevant skills that can obviously meet your needs and the needs of people around you. Just take your time to learn and apply yourself and be rest assured that the future is bright”, the brand communication expert said.
Kemi Okusanya, in her address to participants of Tech Talent, urged them to give their best to the training, stressing that the Senator has provided a platform for them to succeed in life.
“I make sure that I am best in what I do, I think that is what distinguishes you when you are out of here. If the guideline is to do 10, you should do 20. That distinguishes you and you start to make a mark for yourself”, Okusanya admonished.
Wife of the Senator, Mrs Feyisola Abiru, also speaking during the visit of top executives, said that her husband has passion to see young people succeed and urged the participants to give the training all their best.
“The only way you can pay him back is to succeed in life’’, Mrs Abiru told SAIL participants.
Other guests that were present included former APC Lagos East Vice Chairman, Asipa Kaoli Olusanya and Special Adviser to Senator Abiru on Constituency Matters, Dr (Otunba) Saheed Ibikunle.
The visitors also visited the permanent site of SAIL which is expected to be completed before the end of September, 2022.
The purposely built facility will cater for a minimum of 500 to 800 people every year with the complementary of online learning to several thousands also. The facility also has a 30-man co-working space and will also support youths in the neighbourhood with free power, internet and other facilities as they create their own story within the tech ecosystem.
