Odidiomo Targets Ibarapa for Digital Inclusion, Says Power Supply Key to Closing Digital Gap

The Oyo South Senatorial candidate of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), Hon. Adedeji Dhikrullahi Stanley Olajide Odidiomo, has identified Ibarapa as the next major focus of his efforts to expand digital opportunities and bridge the digital divide across the senatorial district.

Odidiomo made this known on Thursday while featuring as a guest speaker at an Independence Day X Space discussion, formerly known as Twitter, organised around the theme, “Where Are the Real Opportunities for Young People in Oyo State?”

The interactive session, which attracted more than 200 youths, provided an opportunity for the federal lawmaker to highlight aspects of his proposed Oyo South development agenda, particularly his plans to promote youth participation in the digital economy and expand access to technology beyond the urban centres of Ibadan.

According to Odidiomo, efforts to close the digital gap in the Ibadan axis have already recorded significant progress, with more than 60 per cent of the identified gap covered. He said the next major area of intervention would be Ibarapa, where he intends to promote wider access to digital education, technology and emerging economic opportunities.

He stressed that digital inclusion goes beyond providing computers and other facilities, noting that there is a need to establish an ecosystem where young people can acquire relevant technology skills, access digital education and participate meaningfully in remote work, technology-enabled entrepreneurship and other opportunities within the digital economy.

Odidiomo, however, identified inadequate electricity supply as one of the major challenges that must be addressed to achieve sustainable digital inclusion in Ibarapa.

“One of the issues I have on my agenda is to tackle the issue of power supply to Ibarapaland. Without stable electricity, we can’t achieve the goal,” he said.

The lawmaker disclosed that he would pursue collaboration with the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) and the Oyo State Independent Power Project as part of efforts to improve electricity access across the zone.

He explained that reliable electricity would provide the foundation for digital development, particularly for young people, businesses, technology hubs and other enterprises that depend heavily on stable power.

Odidiomo said improving electricity supply and expanding digital access would help bring Ibarapa closer to other parts of Oyo South in terms of technological opportunities and economic participation.

He further emphasised that his digital inclusion agenda was ultimately aimed at creating practical opportunities for young people, including digital skills acquisition, remote employment, technology-driven entrepreneurship and greater access to the wider digital economy.