In a bid to foster digital literacy and innovation among the Nigeria youth, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy (FMoCIDE) has unveiled a partnership with the Raspberry Pi Foundation to introduce Code Clubs across Nigeria.
Tailored for students aged seven to 17, these Code Clubs are envisioned as a network of additional programming clubs designed to cultivate a new generation of savvy and inventive minds in Nigeria’s digital space.
In a press release on Tuesday, 8th November, FMoCIDE revealed that the initiative will commence from 17 knowledge exchange centres and is poised to expand across all six of Nigeria’s geopolitical zones. Young participants will be taken through the world of coding and digital technology, and encouraged to apply creative problem-solving skills to their everyday lives.
Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, has noted the importance of this endeavour, stating, “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.” He believes that, “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.”
For its part in this collaboration, the Raspberry Pi Foundation will offer educators and young learners comprehensive toolkits, support, and guidelines. FMoCIDE will also facilitate the establishment and operation of the Code Clubs nationwide through a partnership model.
These partners will consist of individuals, educational institutions, and organisations concerned with promoting digital education in their communities. They will receive support, resources, and operational guidelines from a designated central organisation.
Chief Executive Officer of the Raspberry Pi Foundation, Philip Colligan, was excited about “partnering with the Nigerian Government to inspire the next generation of digital makers.” He further stated that “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 provided for Code Club partners will encompass a wide range 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.
