EDAP Launch Speech

Remarks delivered at the launch of the Ekiti Digital Acceleration programme in Ado-Ekiti on June 19th, 2025

Distinguished guests, please permit me to begin with a moment of silence in honor of my friend and a remarkable daughter of Ekiti. Rt. Hon. Agbaje Damilola Fatimat. Please, let's rise as we honor her memory.

May her soul continue to rest in God’s light.

Who knows Bill Gates?

Bill Gates had access to computers — large mainframes that filled entire rooms — at the age of 13. That early opportunity catalyzed his leadership in microcomputer innovation, creating the computers we use today. As a result, he was the richest man in the world for 18 years.

Today, there are millions of young people across Nigeria and Africa for whom digital literacy access is almost impossible. Data shows that globally, 2.9 billion people have never used the internet, with only one-third of Africa’s population having internet access.

The world is now global. Talent is now global. It is possible today to live in Ilejemeje, Ikere, or Ado-Ekiti and earn global value for your skills. The ability to do so is enabled by education — specifically, digital education. This unique set of abilities empowers you to find the knowledge you need online and teach yourself.

But our reality creates unique challenges: device poverty, weak connectivity, electricity shortages, and lack of information. These barriers limit young people’s access to this life-changing resource.

This is poignant because one cannot aspire to what one cannot perceive, and the limits of aspiration are always the limits of achievement.

Breaking this trend is why my organization’s mission is to support every young African in accessing and leveraging this vast resource to build new competencies, gain global exposure, and achieve the cutting edge of their capabilities.

This is the premise of this program and the first of many initiatives we will lead across the continent. Today, that mission is kicking off in Ekiti State — my home. Please give a round of applause for the leadership of the state and this Ministry for seeing the vision as clearly as I saw it.

Mayowa Olajide Akinleye delivering his remarks at the event

Motivar’s approach is innovative, prioritizing self-learning and peer-to-peer learning to deliver upskilling. Our goal is to provide learner support infrastructure to power digital education access for every underserved youth in Africa.

Today we have found worthy partners in the Ministry of Youth Development. I am grateful for the leadership of the state: His Excellency Biodun Oyebanji, represented by the Chief of Staff, Hon. Niyi Adebayo; the Hon. Commissioner, Adedayo Gold; the Permanent Secretary; and the Director of Youth and Director of Research, Planning and Strategy for the support provided every step of the way.

I am equally grateful to all the partners who worked to establish this youth resource center: Aare Afe Babalola and Mr. John Olajide.

This underscores the impact of organizations like ours and teaches a key lesson: it is not enough that infrastructure is provided, even though it is usually the hardest component. There must also be systems in place to maximally operate that infrastructure.

This is the next conversation, and I’m sure you — our stakeholders — would agree and work with us in advancing that discussion. We must scale this intervention statewide through government funding and community-led support to operate infrastructures like this that are underutilized and maximize learning outcomes for all our students.

I am also grateful to the selected students for your cooperation and dedication. I am impressed by their brilliance.

I started with Bill Gates, and I’ll close here too. This training is not what will make you into Bill Gates, but it’s a seed — a seed that, if nurtured and watered by your curiosity and determination, can become an oak tree that will feeds you all your lives. And if not, we have in a small way increased your capacity to dream.

And that is enough, and what I am proudest of. I hope that we all are.

This is the first twenty. I’ll see you at 1,000.

Thank you for listening to me.

A cross section of stakeholders and participants at the event