The Tech Mentors Initiative (TMI) has trained over 300 secondary school students in Ikotun, Lagos, on aligning their education with tech careers and building their capacity in technology.
TMI, an initiative of Taiwo Olori, a Product Quality Assurance Engineer and Favour Martins-Leye, a Senior Product Manager, seeks to support the younger generation in building a career in tech.
The one-day training, which held at Top Achievers College, Ikotun, featured sessions on introduction to tech, practical steps to get started in tech, how to align education with tech career and an experience-sharing session for the facilitators.
In his presentation about the purpose of the training, Taiwo Olori shared that “growing up, a tech career was not something we ever considered. In secondary school, no one introduced us to the possibilities within the tech space. I always envisioned becoming a medical doctor.
“Looking back, I can see how transformative it would have been to learn early on about the opportunities in tech. That is why we are committed to mentoring secondary school students and helping them understand how their education can unlock a future in technology,” he added.
Olori mentioned that this training is the first of its kind as TMI aims to continue to collaborate with educational stakeholders within the public and private sector “so that students can explore the exciting possibilities that await them in tech. This effort will shape their futures and contribute to economic growth.”
He also buttressed that TMI’s core objectives are to “educate students about the diverse fields in tech; inspire them with real-life stories from successful tech professionals; guide them with practical advice on how to navigate their education with a focus on technology; and support them by offering ongoing mentorship and resources to keep them engaged and on track.”
For his part, Favour Martins-Leye shared that the mentorship program for students is free and it would continue across different schools in Lagos.
He explained that TMI will be collaborating with the Lagos State Ministry of Education to facilitate approvals for the training to be held in public schools.
The Principal of the School, Mrs Oluleye, also commended Taiwo Olori and his colleague, Favour Martins-Leye for educating the students on the importance of technology in today’s world.
Mrs Oluleye noted that through the training, the students are better enlightened on how technology can benefit them.
The TMI team also distributed tech tools like mouse and flash drives to the students.