Varsity launches information technology programme for pupils

About 50 female students drawn from Lagos secondary schools recently benefitted from a training programme on information technology organised by the University of Lagos (UNILAG).The programme titled, ‘Young Coder Application Development (YCAD) was launched recently at the institution’s Faculty of Science boardroom.

The vice chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe explained that the training programme was the institution’s way of developing the younger generation to aid the nation’s growth.“We came up with the technovation idea to develop the talents in our children in the international school, then we decided to include a few others from schools around the environ. I was impressed with the way the children were able to show their potentials and skills and the tutors would continue to train them,” he said.

“In this new year, we’d include girls in other secondary schools within same age range from the communities around us, Iwaya, Makoko, Bariga and others in order to impact their lives too. We want to use it as a platform to develop female students so they can become better and grounded in their field of study.”He however advised parents of students who benefitted from the programme not to not allow the knowledge and impact added fiddle away as the institution is not just creating impression but the expectation that all they have garnered would see them through the rest of their lives.

Coordinator of YCAD programme, Dr. Chika Yinka-Banjo, said, “Initially, we started with the institution’s International School but we eventually included a few other girls from the secondary schools around the university. The children demonstrated what they have learnt, how to develop website and how to develop apps. We picked these young girls to learn how to code by teaching them web application and android application development.

Yinka-Banjo added that the ideology is to empower the girl-child from the grassroots so that they will know what is happening in the world of IT and be able to compete with their contemporaries globally” she said.A lecturer in the Department of Chemistry and parent to one of the girls, Dr. Khadija Abdul Wahab said the training programme has greatly benefited the students.“I have seen great development in her ability to use the system; it’s a big plus on the part of the university for nurturing and bringing out the best in these girls” she said.