Emma Okonji
Telecommunications operator, 9mobile, has launched a coding centre at one of its adopted schools, Rabiatu Thompson Primary School, Surulere, Lagos, as part of the Code Lagos initiative of the Lagos State government.
Code Lagos, which seeks to teach at least one million Lagos residents to code by 2019, has 9mobile as one of its key partners, with the telecommunications firm setting up coding centres at its adopted schools.
Speaking at the launch, Ag. Director, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, 9mobile, Oluseyi Osunsedo, said the telco’s partnership with the Lagos State government on Code Lagos was borne out of its commitment to education and the empowerment of young Nigerians to succeed in the digital age.
Osunsedo said: “As a company committed to promoting academic excellence, 9mobilehas introduced a number of initiatives that contribute to sustainable development in Nigeria. One of such initiatives is our Adopt-A-School programme, through which we have adopted four schools for life, and are driving the delivery of qualitative primary and secondary education, in partnership with respective state governments.
“In sustaining our commitment, we have collaborated with the Lagos State Government, on the laudable Code Lagos initiative, and today we are launching a fully equipped coding centre at Rabiatu Thompson Primary School.”
While encouraging the students to maximally utilise the coding centre, Osunsedo expressed the hope that in another 10-15 years, the school would have produced some of the ICT gurus that will create phenomenal programs that add value to life.
The Director-General, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mrs. Ronke Soyombo, who represented the Special Adviser on Education, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh, stated that the state government was strongly committed to Code Lagos, and thanked 9mobile for its unrelenting support for the initiative.
Soyombo said: “Lagos State Government aims at making coding education framework accessible to every student in Lagos State by encouraging the private sector to key into this new initiative, as the state would continue to create an enabling environment conducive for investment.”
The Head Teacher of Rabiatu Thompson Primary School, Mrs. Mercy Ejindu, expressed her gratitude to 9mobile for its support for the school and for setting up the coding centre.
