Odu’a Investment Foundation Showcases Young Innovators at 2025 Byte Busters Event
The Odu’a Investment Foundation (OIF) has reaffirmed its commitment to digital education and youth empowerment in the South-West region with the successful hosting of the 2025 Byte Busters Showcase at the Daylan Event Centre, Ijokodo, Ibadan.
The event, which drew participants from across the six owner states of Odu’a Investment Company Limited (OICL), celebrated the achievements of students under the DEFINED Project—Digital Education for Innovation and Economic Development—an initiative aimed at equipping young learners with digital skills for the modern economy.
In a goodwill message, Ambassador (Dr.) Olatokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, Chairman of the Odu’a Investment Foundation Advisory Council, praised the steady growth of the Byte Busters clubs and their impact on participating schools. She called for continued investment by state governments and private sector partners to ensure sustainability and broader reach.
> “The next phase is about scale and reach—taking Byte Busters into all six South-West states so that many more pupils can build, present, and collaborate. Momentum must become movement,” she urged.
Representing the OICL Group Chairman, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, Engr. Nureni Adisa, Chairman of Wemabod Limited, commended the initiative as a continuation of the legacy of visionary Yoruba leaders like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who championed education as a tool for regional transformation.
> “This project embodies the Yoruba spirit of Omoluabi to se bi baba re—a child who follows in the worthy footsteps of their parent. We are following the path of progressive leadership, but walking a new path—the digital path,” Adisa said.
He applauded the expansion of the project into Ondo and Lagos States in the last one year, giving the programme a presence in all six owner states of Odu’a Investment Company.
> “Our goal is not just to teach coding but to cultivate a generation of problem-solvers, critical thinkers, and digital entrepreneurs who will reinforce the South-West’s position as Nigeria’s pace-setting region,” he added.
In his welcome address, Mr. Yemi Ajao, Executive Director, Investment and Business Development, OICL, who represented the Group Managing Director, Mr. Abdulrahman Yinusa, described the showcase as a “tangible realization” of a bold vision conceived to bridge the digital divide in the region.
> “Digital literacy is the new education. It is the key that unlocks innovation, drives economic development, and secures our future relevance on the global stage,” Ajao said.
“Today’s showcase is more than a competition; it is a demonstration of courage, creativity, and computational thinking. You, our students, are the proof of concept,” he added.
According to him, over 1,334 students across the six South-West states have been trained in various aspects of coding—from Scratch programming to website development and Generative AI. He also highlighted the contribution of the College of Mentors, made up of 12 industry professionals, and praised the programme’s inclusive outlook, with over 50% female participation recorded in several states.
Dr. Seun Kolade, President of the Odu’a Investment Foundation, commended the students and mentors for their dedication and creativity. He noted that the DEFINED Project represents a long-term investment in the intellectual and economic future of the South-West region.
> “We are building not just coders, but creators and innovators—young people who can think critically, solve problems, and shape the digital economy of tomorrow,” Kolade said.
“Our mission is simple: to make the South-West the most digitally literate and economically innovative region in Nigeria.”
Some of the schools that participated in this year’s showcase include Ijanmondu Community Grammar School, Aramoko District Grammar School, Aramoko Ekiti, School of Science, Ile-Ife, Ado Community High School, Ado-Ekiti, Aje Comprehensive High School, Yaba, Lagos, St. Bernadines Grammar School, Government College, Ibadan, Abeokuta Grammar School, Abeokuta, and Gboluji Grammar School, Ondo.
The event featured exhibitions and live demonstrations of student-built games, websites, and AI-driven tools, showcasing how technology can be harnessed to solve real-world problems.
The Byte Busters Showcase 2025 underscored Odu’a Investment Foundation’s long-term goal of transforming South-West Nigeria into a hub of digital excellence and innovation through youth-driven technology education.
