State government approves next phase of CodeLagos initiative as 15,000 trained

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has approved the implementation of the next phase of the CodeLagos initiative, focused on expanding the reach and scope of the project to cater for more Lagos residents through its “In–School” and “Out-of-School” pathways, with over 15,000 individuals trained so far.

CodeLagos initiative, which has set the goal of teaching 1 million Lagos residents basic coding skills, was initiated in 2016.

Giving progress report on the progress of the programme and the commencement of the new phase, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh, Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, in a statement confirmed that over 15,000 individuals have been trained to date and that all is now set to roll out across 5,000 primary and secondary schools, as well as 50 Out-of-School centres by December 2018.

He said on Monday April 9, 2018, coding classes would commence in the Out-of-School Centres, which cater for Lagos residents who are above 16 years and are not currently in any primary or secondary school in Lagos.

“Coding classes will commence on April 9th in four centres – Herbert Macaulay Library, Yaba; Isolo Public Library, Isolo; Ilupeju Public Library, Ilupeju; and Onikan Youth Centre, Onikan. Additional centres including other Lagos State public libraries, community centres and private training centres are scheduled to roll out in a few weeks.”

Bank-Olemoh also disclosed that plans are at advanced stage to commence coding classes in 400 primary and secondary schools across the 6 Educational Districts in the State – both Government and Private – in the coming academic term set to resume this month.