By Chimezie Godfrey
The National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, through the SB4Kids, National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), says it
has trained over 800 Nigerian kids across Nigeria on STEM, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
The NITDA Stem Bootcamp for kids (SB4Kids) is bootcamp designed to inspire young Nigerians in science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, through the well-known Stem program.
The Director General, National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, NCAIR, Yau Isa Garba disclosed this at the closing ceremony of the NITDA Stem Bootcamp for Kids (SB4Kids), in Abuja on Saturday.
Garba revealed that through the SB4Kids, NCAIR engaged youngsters between the age of 8-16 years in an immersive and well- articulated bootcamp meant to coach and inspire them to imbibe a passion in science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in order to create an early interest in digital technologies which will hopefully shape their future careers in these fields.
“You may recall last year , about a year exactly,
we held SB4kids and the DG made a promise to expand the program, and he has fulfilled that promise because now we are not only hosting SB4kids here in Abuja, this time we have it in Lagos and Kano and as we sit here celebrating, and they love the program, thesame thing is happening in Lagos and Kano.
“This year we have trained over 800 kids on STEM, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematic. And if you recall last year, as we told you the essence of the program is to inspire you, so that you become the next founders, the next technology experts that will help you and our nation and I recall the DG inspire you to become the Bill Gates of tomorrow.
“And you are all witnesses though we selected few of you that will present something, all of you have done extremely well through the program, and we thank you for participating.”
The DG NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa in his remark noted that in the world there is less than 3% literacy rate, according to him this implies that out of 100 people, less than 3 can read and write what is coding, the language technology understand which it uses to communicate.
He pointed out that there are over 14 billion devices or computers all over the world, adding that computer is central to human life.
He therefore said that the SB4Kids is designed to expose Nigerian kids to technology and empower them to be part of the extra ordinary people in the world.
“You know we grew up in a world without computers, I don’t think some of you will ever believe or survive without mobile phones or internet because today we use our mobile phone to do almost and absolutely everything. We use it to read, we use it to chat with our friends, our families. We use it to shop online, we use it for so many things. I don’t think there is anyone in this room who will never use a mobile phone or computer.
“So imagine the power you can have if we learn how to write code in the world, only 1% of the world population as it stands today control what we see, what we read, what we believe. So imagine being one of them. What kind of power are you going to have? You will be among the extra ordinary people in the world. Who wants to be one of them. You want to be one of them. All of you want to be one of them. So most of them started when they were children like you. So it is a golden opportunity for you to start as well. If we think of Bill Gates, Elon Musk, most of them the extra ordinary people started coding while they were in their teenage years.
“So that’s why we designed this program for you so that you will be exposed to technology at the early age and start developing interest in it so that tomorrow we can have more extraordinary peoples in Nigeria,” he said.
The DG NITDA also pointed out that the fastest growing and highest paid jobs are in ICT, as he encouraged Nigerian kids to strive to be part of the highest earning people in world.
“And today, seven out of 10 fastest growing and highest paid jobs are in it. So if you want to be among the highest earning people, you need to learn how to code things of any job. Whether it is a teaching professional work like being a lawyer, a doctor, an engineer, an architect, you all need a computer to do your work well,” the DG said.
Two of the beneficiaries, Master Aliyu Muhammed Usman and Princess Teniola both thanked the DG NITDA for the rare opportunity as participants at the SB4kids adding that the training they have received would inspire them to greatness.
Mr Oladimeji Ogun one of the parents of the participants appreciated the Federal Government, NITDA, and NCAIR for the wonderful opportunity and training given to Nigerian kids
“We appreciate the Federal Government, NITDA, and NCAIR for giving our young ones to be part of this program. It is quite new, and we also appreciate the fact that our young ones are learning something new, though it was stressful but it was worth it for bringing them here everyday for them to attend this program.
“I want to say thank you to the Federal Government, thank you to the DG and everyone that made this program possible,” Mr Ogun said.
Also speaking, another parent of the participants, Mrs Bilikis Mohammed thanked the FG, NCC, and NITDA for the great opportunity for Nigerian kids to learn skills that would make them have a great future
She said,”I want to say thank you to the Federal Government , thank you NCC, thank you NITDA and thank you DG NITDA. We are so much grateful for this opportunity given to our young ones and we hope with this it will continue, and it will continue and continue to make Nigeria better.
“ICT is the in-thing now, and we hope with this program Nigeria is going to be one of the happening countries in the world.”
