By The Republic of Finland has began training of Nigerian students on creative coding which collaboration is part of the CodeBus Africa project.
The CodeBus Africa project is a 100-day tour connecting Finnish and African innovators as part of Finland’s official 100th anniversary celebrations in partnership with the Finnish Aalto University and Abuja-based innovation hub Ventures Platform.
The project is regionally sponsored by the Finnish global telecom leader Nokia.
The programme which kicked off yesterday in Abuja will last for four days, which started with the students from Federal Government Girls College (FGGC) Dutse, Abuja.
Speaking to newsmen the Ambassador of Finland to Nigeria, Mrs. Pirjo Suomela-Chowdhury said that the CODEBUS AFRICA project was initiated to make technology and coding more accessible to young people.
Amb Chowdhury explained that the programme will focus more on girls than the boys based on the fact that girls have low percentage of participation in technology than boys, but the programme however is for both boys and girls.
“With its focus firmly on the young, this innovative activity will consist of creative coding workshops. Students will pair up to learn coding and to produce their own song with the free open-source platform Sonic Pi.
Peer support, creative self-expression and a tangible final product are all elements designed to make the learning experience positive and rewarding.
“At least half of the participants in the workshops will be girls. The aim of the project is to boost grassroots level teaching of computer programming, and to contribute to long-term efforts to promote quality education, youth empowerment and employment.
“I am delighted that we are able to bring this project to Nigeria as part of our anniversary celebrations. I find it particularly important to reach out to the young, focusing on education and employment critical factors in successfully building the future of any country,” the envoy said.
The CodeBus Africa journey will span ten countries in total; Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia- between February and May 2017.
