Borderless Tek has launched the Kids Coding Partnership, a grassroots tech education programme designed to equip underprivileged school children in communities like Ikorodu and Yaba with foundational coding and software development skills, completely free of charge.

A United Kingdom (UK)-based Nigerian tech entrepreneur, Wale Atekoja, who founded the organisation, is rewriting the future of disadvantaged children in Lagos, one line of code at a time.

Atekoja said this is not just another corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative, but a deliberate human-centered response to the growing digital divide that continues to marginalise low-income Nigerian children from the technology revolution sweeping the globe.

“We’ve been teaching black kids in Europe how to code, but what about those back home? We’re not targeting the privileged, we are starting with the forgotten — the children who have never touched a laptop,” he stated.

Atekoja said the first three-month cohort of the programme is scheduled to kick off in September 2025, targeting public Junior and Senior Secondary School students across Lagos low-income areas.

He stated that the curriculum will focus on practical and hands-on learning from basic programming to animation, mobile app creation and problem-solving.

The initiative is supported by strategic partners such as Yesding (education facilitation), Proline (internet infrastructure), and Akowe App, a credential verification startup that will ensure every certificate earned is both digitally secured and internationally recognised.

A representative from Akowe, Olamide Busari, said, “This is how we break cycles of exclusion. These children will walk away not only with new skills but with verifiable certificates that open doors.”

Busari said this credibility ensures the effort extends beyond the classroom, helping students qualify for advanced training, internships, or even scholarships, adding, “It’s about real-world impact, not just inspiration.”

He said the classrooms, to be set up in schools and libraries, are being fitted with digital infrastructure through partnerships with local governments and community stakeholders.

Earlier pilot classes held this year already demonstrated tangible success as students who had never used a laptop built mobile apps and animations in just weeks.

He called on corporate entities, public servants, NGOs, and everyday Nigerians to join the effort by donating laptops, sponsoring training centers, or mentoring the children.