Ministry to equip 1,500 students with tech skills

A program called Build-A-Thon is scheduled to begin for 1,500 secondary school students by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.

150 schools from three different locations—Owerri, Maiduguri, and Abeokuta—will participate in the four-day event, according to a release. An ecosystem providing a range of learning possibilities, such as DIY boxes, technology laboratories, and skill-building seminars, is what the organizers described as a Build-A-Thon.

The Nigerian Communications Commission and Raspberry Pi Foundation, an NGO with headquarters in the United Kingdom, will work together to organize the event.

During his speech, Minister Dr. Bosun Tijani stated, “We are preparing the next generation to succeed in the digital era because we firmly believe that technology will play a significant part in our growth as a nation.

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It is only via programs like this one, where kids learn in a controlled setting, that we can fulfill our commitment to producing more digitally literate adults. We firmly think that Nigeria is home to many bright brains who, given the chance, can achieve great things. And that is precisely what we are offering them.

Outstanding teams from various regions and categories will be recognized, the organizers added. The initiative aims to motivate kids to become innovators and problem solvers by providing them with fundamental skills and introducing them to the realm of maker culture, according to the ministry.

When discussing the project earlier, Tijani said, “We need to build a knowledge pipeline that includes these young, impressionable minds if we want to position Nigeria as the go-to market for technical knowledge.”

Announcing its Build-A-Thon initiative program in 2023, the ministry was looking for educators, teachers, and enthusiasts in Maiduguri, Owerri, and Abeokuta.