Foundation Targets 20,000 Children As Africa’s Robotics Market Heads for $4.29b Louis Awode Foundation

Fadekemi Ajakaiye

With the Middle East and Africa’s industrial robotics market projected to reach $4.29 billion by 2030, driven by rising automation across manufacturing, agriculture, and logistics, the Louis Awode Foundation has launched a nationwide initiative aimed at preparing children for the emerging digital economy through robotics, coding, entrepreneurship, and technology education.

Building on a recent Ogun State outreach that reached nearly 1,800 pupils and students, with more than 460 participants completing structured hands-on technology training, the foundation said it plans to scale the programme to over 20,000 children nationwide through school-based technology hubs, mentorship programmes, and robotics competitions.

The initiative comes amid growing concerns that Africa’s fast-expanding technology sector could widen inequality if young people in underserved communities are excluded from early digital skills development.

The foundation said the programme will expose children to robotics, coding, artificial intelligence, animation, 3D printing, entrepreneurship, and digital content creation, while also strengthening problem-solving and innovation capabilities.

Founder of the foundation, Louis Awode, said the project was designed to close the widening technology gap affecting low-income communities and ensure Nigerian children are not left behind in the global innovation economy.

Powered by VidCrunch

“We are moving beyond simply exposing children to technology. The goal is to help them think creatively, solve problems, and develop the confidence to build solutions of their own. The future economy will reward young people who can innovate, code, design products, and compete globally,” he said.
According to him, the nationwide rollout will expand on the Ogun model through the establishment of robotics laboratories, entrepreneurship boot camps, and structured STEM learning programmes across schools nationwide. Students are expected to receive practical training in robot design, autonomous programming, competitive robotics, business ideation, product development, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and digital manufacturing tools.

Awode added that outstanding participants would qualify for scholarships, mentorship opportunities, and internship placements through partnerships with technology firms and educational institutions. He disclosed that discussions are already underway with private sector technology companies, state governments, schools, and community organisations to establish technology hubs across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones equipped with robotics kits, 3D printers, digital design software, and certified instructors.

Foundation to boost kids’ entrepreneurship

Foundation to equip youths with skills

Foundation begins yearly support for essential workers, heads to UN women’s conference
“When a child from a rural community successfully builds a robot or develops a business idea for the first time, it changes their mindset permanently. They begin to see themselves as creators rather than spectators in the digital economy,” he said.

As part of the initiative, the foundation also plans to organise zonal and national robotics competitions to give students early exposure to careers within the technology ecosystem and opportunities to interact with industry professionals.

The programme builds on the foundation’s maiden “Clothe-A-Child Initiative,” implemented in partnership with The Archers between May 19 and May 20 across public schools in Ogun State. The intervention covered schools in Ijebu-Ode and Ogbere in Ijebu East Local Government Area, where beneficiaries received school bags, notebooks, educational materials, and digital literacy training.
Teachers in participating schools described the intervention as timely, citing severe shortages of learning materials among children from low-income farming households. One teacher, identified simply as Mr. Salam, said many students struggle to access basic educational resources because their parents cannot afford them, a situation that continues to affect learning outcomes in rural communities.

Reflecting on his upbringing, Awode said his personal experiences growing up in an underserved community inspired the foundation’s focus on educational access and digital empowerment.
“I understand what it means to grow up without adequate learning materials and opportunities. What we are trying to do is give children the kind of exposure and encouragement that can completely alter their life trajectory,” he said.

Head of Brand Experience ,The Archers, Michael Olabode, said the organisation supported the initiative through logistics coordination, volunteer mobilisation, media engagement, and the delivery of learning materials and digital training support.