Adeyeye
Boluwatife, a 16-year-old Coding School alumna from Nigeria, shared: "I enjoyed the hands-on project to
create a website and got excited about developing STEM skills."
According
to the National Bureau of Statistics, information and communications technology
(ICT) contributed 16% to Nigeria's gross domestic product (GDP) in Q4 2023.
However, the lack of digital skills, awareness, and affordable access to smart
devices remain significant challenges, as highlighted by Research ICT Africa's survey
in Nigeria. The Coding School aims to support Nigeria's vision of prioritizing
digital literacy and STEM programs for the younger generation, ultimately
driving the country's development.
Kuljit Ghata-Aura, president of Boeing Middle East, Türkiye,
Africa, and Central Asia, said: "The
significance of advanced digital skills cannot be overstated. Industries like
aerospace are in dire need of tech-savvy talent. Our Coding School aligns
seamlessly with Nigeria's ambitions to develop its digital economy and empower
its people, and we're excited to expand our partnership with ThinkYoung to West
Africa."
"We are thrilled to
introduce this program to Nigeria for the first time," said Andrea Gerosa,
Founder of ThinkYoung. "Young people
view digital technologies as an integral part of their daily lives, which is
why ThinkYoung and Boeing are committed to equipping them with the necessary
ICT skills to participate in and lead the digital transformation within their
communities."
ThinkYoung and Boeing have organized Coding Schools
worldwide, with a particular focus on empowering youth in Africa. Since 2019,
690 teenagers have participated in Coding Schools in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria,
Rwanda, and Tanzania.
More than 60% of the Coding School participants are girls. By
breaking stigmas, the program provides them with a supportive environment and
early exposure to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Boeing has partnered with over 40 organizations and invested
more than $22 million since 2008 to drive systemic improvements in education
and economic transformation in Africa. In Nigeria, Boeing's community projects
are centered around entrepreneurship, digital literacy, and space education.
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
