Kwara State govt launches free summer digital coding classes for public school students

T The Kwara State Government has commenced a free Summer Digital Coding class for public secondary school students.

The programme, which kicked off on Monday, is designed to equip young learners with essential digital skills, enabling them to compete on a global scale.

The Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital Innovation, Hon. Kayode Ishola, explained the initiative’s objectives during a press briefing in Ilorin, the state capital.

“The government understands that for the students to have a competitive edge globally, they need to have digital skills, especially now that external exams like JAMB, WAEC, and NECO are computer-based,” Ishola stated.

The six-week programme spans six centers across the three senatorial districts of the state, targeting students aged eleven to fifteen.

It is orchestrated by the Office of the Special Assistant to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Digital Innovation, reinforcing the administration's commitment to digital literacy.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony at Queen Elizabeth Secondary School, Ilorin, Ishola emphasized the state government’s dedication to fostering mass digital literacy among the youth.

The initial two weeks of the programme will introduce participants to digital literacy, catering to those with limited computer experience. The subsequent weeks will delve into coding and other advanced digital skills.

Other training centers include Government Secondary School Afon (Kwara Central); Ansarul Islam Junior Secondary School (Gure, Baruten) and Etsu Maman Saba Junior Secondary School Batapan (North); and Government Secondary School Omuaran and Offa Grammar School, Offa (South).

The initiative has received overwhelming interest, with over 1,000 applications from public school students. However, only 500 applicants who met the eligibility criteria were selected for the program.

“The successful applicants fall between the ages of 11 and 15,” Ishola noted, expressing gratitude to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his relentless efforts in transforming the educational sector.

Dr. Adetola Salahu, Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Policy Formulation, and Human Capital Development, highlighted the broader impact of the training. “We are equipping them so that they will be able to compete with their global counterparts and help us solve some of the challenges we are facing in the country,” she said, mentioning areas like waste management, power generation, and food supply where digital skills could be transformative.

Hajia Gobir Bola Habibat, Principal of Queen Elizabeth School, praised the government for this forward-thinking initiative, which she believes will productively engage students during the holiday season.