Kwara Government Launches Digital Coding Initiative for Students in 50 Public Schools
By Mashood Abdulrafiu Agboola
The Kwara State Government has officially initiated a Coding and Digital Literacy training program targeted at over 50 public primary and junior secondary schools across the state.
The program, organized by the Office of the Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital and Innovation, Hon. Ishola Kayode, aims to equip students with essential digital skills.
During the launch event, held at Bishop’s Smith Junior Secondary School in Ilorin, Senior Adviser and Counsellor to the Governor, Alhaji Sa’adu Salau, represented Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq. He emphasized that the digital initiative is a critical component of the administration’s investment in the education sector, stating, “We are now faced with the reality of the digital revolution. Today, we have flagged off training on digital literacy in 50 schools in Kwara State.”
The pilot scheme is expected to reach over 150 students in each participating school, with the goal of ensuring that children in Kwara State are prepared for the global digital landscape.
Salau mentioned, “It is our expectation that with the foundation laying of a digital society for this generation, the children of Kwara State would not lag behind among their counterparts globally.”
Participating schools in the capital include Queen Elizabeth School, Ilorin Grammar School, and Sheikh Alimi L.G.E.A Primary School.
Hon. Ishola highlighted the importance of the program in addressing the digital gap for public school students, asserting, “They should be digitally literate and equipped to solve problems in their communities, as these challenges can often be addressed through technological knowledge.”
The selection of 50 schools was strategic, comprising 15 from the Kwara Central region, 13 from the North, and 22 from the Southern part of the state. An expansion of the program is anticipated following a data-driven assessment of the pilot’s effectiveness.
Mrs. Akanbi Janet Ayoola, Principal of Bishop’s Smith College (Junior Session), commended the initiative, stating it is one of the best decisions made by the Governor in an era dominated by information technology and artificial intelligence.
Students Opadili Dorcas Boluwatife and Akinola Kolawole Abdulrahman also expressed gratitude for the initiative, promising to leverage the opportunity to compete on a global scale in the digital revolution.
