The Federal Government is currently seeking applications from organisations that are interested in working with them to establish Code Clubs in the 17 Digital Knowledge Exchange Centres spread across Nigeria.
The Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy is spearheading this initiative.
Officially, the ministry’s X account announced the opening, and it said that designated centres will be made available to qualified host organisations with a history of providing STEAM training so that they can put it to good use for the benefit of their communities.
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The ministry tweeted, “As we build a digital knowledge pipeline with young Nigerians at its core, we are calling on host organisations interested in partnering to activate Code Clubs in our 17 Digital Knowledge Exchange Centres spread across Nigeria.”
“Launched in collaboration with Raspberry Pi Foundation, the Code Clubs will enable Nigerians aged 7 to 17 years to learn a broad spectrum of coding and technology-related subjects. Qualified host organisations with a track record in STEAM training will get access to designated centres with a view to putting it to good use for the benefit of local communities.”
Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy and Raspberry Pi Foundation, a UK-based computing education charity, have joined forces to launch the Code Club initiative.
Code Clubs are an extracurricular programming club network in Nigeria that aims to foster a new generation of creative, tech-savvy youths (students ranging in age from seven to seventeen). Members of these groups will have the opportunity to learn about many different aspects of computer science and related fields.
Dr Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, made a statement at the launch, saying that these young, receptive minds represent the knowledge pipeline that will be necessary to position Nigeria as the go-to market for technical knowledge.
With the help of the Raspberry Pi Foundation’s worldwide network of free coding clubs, the Nigerian ministry is certain that their strategy to boost the country’s digital economy by training more people to code and increasing their technical knowledge is working.
Importance of teaching children coding
There are several strong arguments in favour of teaching children to code:
Learning to code early on has a positive effect on cognitive development. Young children’s cognitive development benefits from the practice of logical reasoning and problem-solving skills that coding provides.
Competence in analysing and resolving complex problems: Learning to code fosters proficiency in this area. Learning to code helps kids become better problem solvers by teaching them to analyze issues, identify key components, and develop creative solutions.
Creativity: The act of coding is portrayed as an artistic pursuit. The development of novel solutions and applications necessitates the use of creative thinking. An individual’s creative potential can be enhanced by teaching them to code.
Collaborating: When coding, it’s common to work with others. Young people who participate in coding projects develop their interpersonal and teamwork abilities.
Improved performance in the classroom: Learning to code has a positive effect on students’ performance in the classroom. Coding helps with analytical thinking and problem-solving, which are useful in many different fields of study.
Practical uses: Knowledge of computer programming has practical uses beyond the realm of computer science. The skill to code is emphasised as highly desirable in various sectors, suggesting its importance for potential job openings down the road.
Equipped for the Job Market: Being proficient in coding is a great way to meet the demands of today’s job market. Learning to code is a great way to get kids ready for a world where being able to use technology effectively will be essential in many different careers.
To be digitally literate in this day and age means to have a firm grasp on the building blocks of computer programming. This level of literacy is considered crucial for thriving in today’s technologically advanced society.
As a strategy to close the digital gap, it is recommended that children learn to code at a young age. All students, regardless of socioeconomic status, should have access to the chance to acquire basic computer literacy through classroom instruction in computer programming.
Coding, like reading and mathematics, is a fundamental ability. The paper contends that teaching students how to code should be standard practice in schools so that they can adapt to the rapidly developing technology world.