At the Nigerian Youth Reformers (NYR) study centres in Lagos State, 80 percent of the youths who attend the free training programme organized by the association (NYR) have had to struggle with computer illiteracy. This has not only limited their participation at computerized ideologies or programmes but also made it more difficult for them to cope with modern time issues, since everything has been computerized.

The following experiences illustrate how hundred have been helped to new level of ability through Computer Literacy Awareness Programme (CLAP), organized by NYR. More importantly, learning computer has enabled them to fit-in into the modern world and prepare them for the future confrontations with Information and Communication Technology (ICT); the technology, which has seriously reshaped things throughout the whole world today, and yet promised to do more , after all, if you have done plenty you can still do more.

The positive effect on the students in the Computer Literacy Class has extended far beyond learning how to operate on computer alone. Many of them find it interesting to research on the Internet in their chosen field, which has helped expand their views. Many of them have been employed as either computer operator by business centres or cyber attendants, having completed their training from NYR Training Centres; an alternative of roaming about or wasting their rather valuable time questing for uncertain means of livelihood. For adults who also benefit from these free trainings, and who may not have had the opportunity of seeing or working with computer before, teaching them could be described as mountainlike obstacle. After weeks of struggling to blend them to be computer appliance, some students exclaim with a big grin: “Yeah! I can now open an e-mail account by myself and send message around the world.” Observing the students’ progress also makes the instructors happy. One instructor said: “Teaching a class is sheer joy, and the students’ genuine appreciation for this provision from NYR is often expressed with applause at the end of a class.”

Along with NYR executives, these now computer literate youths rejoice. Why? Because they can now use their ability to EMPOWER themselves.