The executives of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) Kwara State Chapter paid a visit to Queen Elizabeth Secondary School, a designated venue for the ongoing Kwara Free Summer Coding and Digital Literacy Bootcamp.

This is contained in a press release from the Society signed by its publicity secretary, Mr Taofik Ahmed

This 6-week initiative, spearheaded by the Kwara State Government under the leadership of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, aims to equip students in public schools with essential skills in coding, programming, and digital literacy.

The boot camp, which is being organised through the office of the Senior Special Assistant on Digital Economy, Mr. Kayode Ishola, is strategically distributed across six centres, with two centres chosen from each of the state's three senatorial districts. This ensures wide access to the training, which focuses on enhancing technological skills and providing opportunities for young students in the state.

During the visit, Engr. Taofik Abdulkareem, Chairman of the NCS Kwara Chapter, expressed his enthusiasm for the programme. He highlighted that it offers students a strong foundation in coding and algorithmic thinking, crucial components in the fast-evolving ICT sector. He praised the state government's foresight in launching such a transformative initiative and reaffirmed NCS's continued commitment to collaborating with the government on its digital transformation goals. Engr. Abdulkareem also mentioned NCS's other key initiatives, including the NCS Whizkid National Competition, which helps nurture young tech talents by enabling their participation in ICT competitions at zonal, state, and national levels.

In a statement, Dr. James Ayeni, the Secretary of NCS Kwara Chapter, applauded the state government for its bold step towards enhancing digital literacy and recommended integrating coding into the regular secondary school curriculum. He emphasised that this would help embed a culture of daily ICT engagement among students in Kwara State, further boosting their digital proficiency.

In response, Mr. Kayode Ishola, the Senior Special Assistant on Digital Economy, expressed his gratitude to the NCS delegation for their visit and encouragement. He urged the society to conduct spot assessments and provide feedback to improve the ongoing bootcamp, especially as preparations are made for the upcoming student exhibition, where participants will showcase their tech projects.

The NCS delegation, which included the chapter's Financial Secretary Mrs. Oyeranti Obisesan, Public Relations Officer Mr. Taofik Abiodun Ahmed, and other members including Mr. Issah Yusuf Bolaji, Mrs. Enilara Adefila, and Mr. Ayinla, toured the training centres to observe the students' progress.

In his closing remarks, Engr. Abdulkareem pledged that the Kwara NCS chapter would sponsor significant rewards for the top-performing students at the upcoming exhibition. These incentives are intended to motivate students to continue excelling in their journey towards digital and technological excellence, further cementing Kwara's role as a leader in ICT development.