On the 1st of November 2016, Huawei Technologies Nigeria Limited made history in Lagos by commissioning the first solar powered ICT centre in a Lagos public school. The lucky beneficiary school was the Wahab Folawiyo Junior Secondary School on the outskirts of Ikoyi Lagos.
The project was developed under the Lagos State government (LASG) “Project 350”, a private-sector driven initiative to build libraries and ICT centres in secondary schools across the State. The Project 350 initiative also involves the creation of online libraries.
The commissioning ceremony…
…was attended by officials of the Lagos State government, Huawei executives, and members of FOTE. The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akin Ambode was represented by his Special Adviser on Education, Obafela Bank-Olemoh. Speaking, the special Adviser said the libraries will collectively serve as an Education Portal. The libraries will also serve as repositories of knowledge in the state.
According to him, the governors vision was to transform Lagos into the most technologically advanced state in the country.
To further buttress this vision, the ICT centres and digital libraries currently under development around the state will be used as training hubs for teaching software coding to Lagos state students.
As the biggest ICT company in the world, and a major player in the ICT sector in Nigeria, Huawei has plugged into the ICT vision of Governor Ambode. As a result, Huawei has identified several secondary and tertiary schools around Lagos where they will either upgrade existing ICT centres, or develop new ones from scratch.
Huawei have defined their corporate responsibility very succinctly. The ICT giants wish to improve the lives of people, especially women and children in their immediate operating environment. And one of the ways to do this is by educating the youths and improving access to information.
It is therefore propitious that FOTE is able to partner with Huawei in achieving this joint vision. In addition to ultimately improving the lives of the children, ICT has become an invaluable tool in the efficient management of the environment.
The Huawei ICT Digital Library at Wahab Folawiyo Junior Secondary School
Back to the digital library, the project was delivered using a 5 kV solar powered inverter system. The energy system is able to power 12 complete computer desktops, an internet modem, lights, and overhead fans. The Huawei sponsored centre also includes 2 split air conditioners.
Huawei also purchased school textbooks to complete the traditional library component of the digital library.
These books were carefully selected based on the state’s curriculum.
The project also involved the complete overhaul of library furniture – computer tables and chairs, reading tables, and book shelves.
An interesting aspect of the digital library involved the use of FOTE-recommended HP pavilion mini CPUs. 
These diminutive devices perfectly replace the traditional CPUs which use up significantly more energy. In spite of their size, the minis were however configured to specifications suitable for school use.
The Project 350 is a laudable plan by the Lagos State government. When juxtaposed with the directive of the State’s education ministry to teach mandarin in all Lagos state primary schools, it becomes easy to envisage the key role Huawei will play in Lagos state going forward.
This seamless partnership can only bode well for Ambode and the future generations of Lagos state children.
We at FOTE are proud to be a part of this historic initiative.