By Raji Rasak
A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), RYD-Learning on Thursday trained 1,000 children in Lagos State on digital literacy to help build a generation of highly skilled tech-savvy leaders.
Mr Michael Boyo, Co-founder and Managing Partner of RYD-Learning, said at the end of the transformative 12-day Free Digital Literacy Programme that
the virtual learning platform focused on programming education for children.
He said the group deliberately initiated a self-sustaining training programme for the children to develop them against technological challenges.
Boyo said that the organisation undertook the training in a bid to extend the frontiers of digital literacy and build the architects of innovation with a commitment to excellence.
“This programme is meant to arm and equip the young minds with the essential and vital tools of the digital age – programming, interactive communication and critical thinking.
“RYD Learning is a dynamic virtual learning platform focused on empowering children and teenagers between the age range of six and 17 years through hands-on digital literacy and technology education.
“Our mission is to democratise tech education by providing free, accessible, and high-quality training programmes to students, particularly those from underserved communities.
“Since inception, we have successfully trained more than 1,000 children in Nigeria and the Diaspora, helping them build foundational skills in programming, digital literacy and collaboration,” he said.
He said the platform’s success during the 12-day programme was a testament to the dedication of its founders and partners, who were united in their vision to empower the next generation of tech-savvy leaders.
Boyo, who shared his thoughts on the mission of the platform, said: “As a Computer Science graduate from one of Nigeria’s top universities, I didn’t own a computer until my early 20s.
“This experience showed me how much more advantage great inventors had by accessing computers early in life. Through RYD Learning, we aim to change this narrative for children worldwide.”
Aderonke Iyiola, the Programme Lead, said she was passionate about inspiring and empowering the next generation of tech innovators through dynamic, hands-on learning in coding and digital literacy.
She said the virtual training would entail cutting-edge curriculum implementation and mentorship in an inclusive environment that nurtured creativity, problem-solving and critical thinking.
According to her, it prepares students to excel in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.
Damilola Odunaike, another Co-founder, emphasised the importance of a seamless learning experience after she discovered a significant gap in technology education, after her graduation.
“At RYD Learning, I ensure our engineering team builds a platform that makes connecting kids to our facilitators easy, ensuring they have a positive and impactful learning experience,” she said.
John Akadi and Remi Odunaike, also Co-founders of the platform, emphasised critical global need and demand for tech experts as they underscored the importance of nurturing young minds.
“By setting the children on the right path now, we are ensuring a brighter future for our world, ” they said.
Another Co-founder, Ayodele Aransiola, expressed commitment to bridging the significant gap in global tech education by introducing children to the tech world early, “so they can grow into future tech leaders.” NAN
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