Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation
& Digital Economy has announced its partnership with the Raspberry Pi
Foundation, to launch Code Clubs across the country.
Specifically designed for students aged 7 to 17, Code Clubs
are a network of extracurricular programming clubs developed to nurture a new
generation of digitally literate and innovative young minds in Nigeria.
These clubs, according to statement released by the Ministry
which will initially start from 17 knowledge exchange centres, will further
expand to other locations across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. The
young participants will be introduced to the world of coding and digital technology
and be encouraged to deploy creative problem-solving in their everyday lives.
“Our journey towards positioning Nigeria as the go-to
market for technical knowledge cannot be achieved without creating a knowledge
pipeline that is represented by these young, impressionable minds,” said Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, the Minister of
Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy. “By joining a global
network of free coding clubs supported by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, we are
confident that our plan to rapidly grow Nigeria’s digital economy through the
deepening of technical knowledge and development of talent is on course.”
As part of the partnership, the statement continued Raspberry
Pi Foundation will provide comprehensive toolkits, support, and guidelines for
educators and young learners, while the Ministry will facilitate the
establishment and operation of the Code Clubs across the country using a
partnership model. The partners, who will be made up of individuals,
educational institutions and organisations passionate about promoting computing
education in their communities will receive support, resources and operational
guidelines from a designated central organisation.
Philip Colligan, Chief Executive Officer of the Raspberry
Pi Foundation said: “We are excited to be partnering with the Nigerian
Government to inspire the next generation of digital makers. Code Clubs are a
fantastic way to give young people the opportunity to get creative with
computers and digital technologies, opening up a world of possibilities."
The learning paths to be provided for Code Club partners
will cover a broad spectrum of coding and technology-related subjects including
Introduction to Coding, Basic Concepts, Game Development, Web Development,
Programming Languages, Algorithms and Problem Solving, Robotics and
Electronics, and Project-Based Learning.
The partnership between the Ministry of Communications,
Innovation & Digital Economy and the Raspberry Pi Foundation to establish
Code Clubs for kids represents a significant and forward-thinking initiative
aimed at preparing the younger generation of Nigeria for a digital and
technologically advanced future.
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
