In a significant stride towards empowering the orphaned and less privileged youths of Edo State, the OrphanHub training programme was launched on Tuesday, April 2nd, 2024.
The event, which held at the Edo State Innovative Hub, marked the beginning of a three-week journey designed to impart essential digital skills to orphans and underprivileged youths within the community.
The brainchild of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Emmanuel Nnaemeka Vitus, as part of his personal Community Development Service (CDS) programme, OrphanHub aims to equip participants with the digital prowess necessary for thriving in contemporary Nigerian society. Vitus, inspired by a childhood friend’s struggles, envisions a future where no child is left to the mercy of the streets due to a lack of support and opportunities.
“This idea came to me two years ago while I was in the university,” Vitus recalls. “I still remember one of my childhood friends who is an orphan. His parents died when he was still very young. I remember this guy went through a lot, and because he had no one to support him, he started to follow the wrong crowd. I don’t want other children to suffer the same fate as my friend, because if my friend had an opportunity like this, he wouldn’t be out in the streets without anything.”
The curriculum is comprehensive, covering social media management, freelancing, digital marketing, video editing, photography, videography, among other skills. These are the tools that Emmanuel Bright, another NYSC member and volunteer, believes are crucial for the youth to contribute positively to society.
“The world is growing in terms of digital and technological advancements, and having this privilege as an orphan to learn these important skills is very good because it will help them develop themselves and their abilities in a way that will profit the society,” says Bright.
The excitement among the beneficiaries is palpable.
“I’m really, really excited. It’s not every day that we get this kind of opportunity,” says one participant, reflecting the general sentiment.
Another adds, “Most of the things we want to do here, I don’t know anything about it, so I can’t say much, but I’m expecting to learn new things.”
In a bid to encourage excellence, OrphanHub will award personal computers to the top 10 performers at the end of the training, providing them with the tools to continue their digital exploration and growth.
This project also boasts partnerships with the Ministry of Social Development and Gender Issues, Ministry of Communication and Orientation, Ministry of Local Government, Community and Chieftaincy Affairs, Nigeria Television Authority, Edo Innovative Hub, The Nigerian Observer Newspaper, among other private channels.
