Stakeholders, academics, and political leaders gathered at the Muslim Multipurpose Hall, Kwara State College of Education, for the Second Alore Community Summit. Organized by the Alore Community Development Forum (ACDF), the event served as a strategic platform to address security challenges and promote digital empowerment within the community.
Delivering the first keynote, Barr. Dr. Ismael Funsho Yusuph Alashe of the University of Ilorin emphasized that security is not a solo effort. This sentiment was echoed by Former Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe, who called for the strengthening of traditional security senses and the establishment of a local security branch office in Alore. “Security is a joint work, not for any individual to shoulder alone,” Oloriegbe stated.
The second session, led by Engr. Taofik Olanrewaju Abdulkareem, CEO of Plat Technologies and Chairman of the Computer Society of Nigeria (Kwara Chapter), focused on digital literacy as a catalyst for community growth. He argued that digital skills are no longer foreign but are essential for global competitiveness in the modern world.
Senator Oloriegbe added a practical layer to the discussion, suggesting that while building a Computer-Based Test (CBT) center is a valuable add-on, the community must first ensure that Alore’s primary schools are equipped with basic computer knowledge. This foundation, he argued, is necessary to build a large, tech-savvy student population.
Engr. Suleiman Yahaya (Alapansapa), former Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), highlighted that high capital costs remain a significant hurdle for the proposed CBT center. Drawing from historical lessons on student enrollment, he noted that infrastructure alone is insufficient; the community must create incentives and “attractions” to encourage students to register and remain in school.
A major highlight of the summit was the announcement of the top performers in the ACDF CBT Training Program. Three students, Ibrahim Maryam (Ile Babaita), Abdukareem Azeezat (Ile Alagbo), and Abdulfatah Salamat (Ile Aligere) received full WAEC sponsorship. Additionally, 12 other high-performing students were awarded paid CBT applications for examination practice.
The atmosphere was one of profound gratitude following the announcement. The beneficiaries expressed their appreciation for the benevolent gesture, describing it as a life-changing opportunity. They collectively promised to serve as good ambassadors for Alore, vowing to use their academic success to promote the community’s image and inspire younger students.
The Forum is slated to accompany the selected top students to their respective schools on Monday, January 5, the official resumption date to finalize the payment of their WAEC fees.
Dignitaries that attended the event includes, Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe, Former Senator, Kwara Central, Prof. Shu’aibu Babaita, Distinguished Academic, Barr. K.K. Eleja, SAN, Legal Luminary, Dr. Ismael Funsho Yusuph Alashe, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Unilorin, Engr. Taofik Olanrewaju Abdulkareem, Chairman, NCS Kwara, Prof. Baba Alafara, Representative of the Ilorin Professor Association, Engr. Suleiman Yahaya (Alapansapa), Community Leader and Technical Expert amongst others.
