The Idogun Development Association (IDA) has commissioned a modern digital resource centre in Idogun, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, reinforcing community-led efforts to expand access to education and digital opportunities in the area.
The facility, located within the premises of Idogun High School, houses an e-library and a proposed Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre. It is expected to serve Idogun and neighbouring communities, significantly reducing the need for students to travel long distances to sit for computer-based examinations.
The commissioning formed part of IDA’s annual end-of-year celebrations, which also featured football competitions, free medical outreach, cultural displays, and the presentation of scholarships to deserving students.
Speaking at the event, the Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon. Idowu Ajanaku, described the ICT centre as a product of unity, resilience, and collective sacrifice by the Idogun people.
An indigene of the community, Ajanaku said the project reflected a long-standing vision rooted in the selfless efforts of past leaders who laid the foundation for Idogun’s educational development.
He noted that the establishment of Idogun High School itself was the result of communal struggle and cooperation under the former Idogun Progressive Union, adding that the new digital centre followed the same tradition of grassroots-driven development.
While commending the initiative, the commissioner stressed that sustainable development could only be achieved in an atmosphere of peace. He urged residents to shun actions capable of disrupting harmony and called on stakeholders to cooperate with the Ondo State Government, particularly by respecting the outcome of the Administrative Panel currently sitting in Akure to address lingering community issues.
Earlier, Chairman of the Commissioning Planning Committee, Mr. Taiwo Ajimuda, said the project was executed with the support of the Ondo State Community and Social Development Agency (OSCSD).
In his address, the Worldwide President of IDA, Engr. Tunji Ajibolade, said the digital centre was conceived to ease the challenges faced by students who travel outside the community to access CBT facilities.
He disclosed that OSCSD provided a ₦17 million grant for the project, which was supplemented by funds raised during IDA’s second convention.
Ajibolade explained that the ICT auditorium is designed to accommodate 250 laptops and desks, alongside four offices, meeting key requirements for JAMB CBT accreditation. He revealed that about ₦50 million had been expended on the project so far.
He commended members of the association for their unity and commitment, urging indigenes to continue to see themselves as one family working collectively for the growth and progress of the community.
Also speaking, the IDA Patron and former Secretary to the State Government and Head of Service, Attorney Omolorun Modupe, said the centre marked a new phase in educational development for Idogun and its environs. He noted that with the Federal Government’s emphasis on computer-based examinations, digital literacy had become essential for students.
The Father of the Day, Senator Dr. Bode Olajumoke, Chairman of the Irekari Development Association, described the facility as a major relief for communities across the Irekari axis. A financial supporter of the project, he urged beneficiaries to use the centre responsibly and ensure its sustainability.
The event also featured the presentation of scholarship awards to outstanding and indigent students, including those studying medical-related courses in higher institutions. The scholarships, sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Adewolu, ranged from ₦10,000 to ₦200,000.
As residents, community leaders, and guests celebrated the milestone, the commissioning of the ICT centre was widely hailed as a symbol of what collective vision, unity, and peaceful coexistence can achieve in advancing grassroots development.
