CodeLagos: SystemSpecs, LASG invest in capacity development

SystemSpecs, one of Africa’s leading financial technology firms, in alliance with the Lagos State Government, is expanding the frontiers of technology by empowering young Lagosians to significantly contribute to the advancements of the future, through CodeLagos.

This revelation was made as the scope of the CodeLagos—an initiative of the Lagos State Ministry of Education aimed at teaching how to write code and creatively solve problems—was recently extended to out-of-school centres. This is in order to further broaden access to coding education for Lagos residents.

In its first phase, the project trained more than 5000 students from 65 schools, including public and privately-owned primary as well as secondary schools across the state. The programme has now been expanded and will run in about 150 schools in the State.

“By January 2018, the programme would have expanded to a minimum of 500 schools across the State, while the Out-of-School programme will expand to all the public libraries and selected community centres,” said Obafela Bank-Olemoh, Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, in a statement.

Speaking on behalf of SystemSpecs, its Executive Director, DeRemi Atanda noted that the firm has partnered with the Lagos State Government as part of its commitment to empower the next generation of innovators who will drive the future of work.

“We know that technology is a major enabler of any thriving economy, and acknowledge the importance of building capacity in that area.

“Our vision is to lead efforts to develop the next generation of innovators and ensure that Nigeria becomes a net exporter of software technology solutions and services in the next few years,” Atanda said.

CodeLagos’s out-of-school classes will start in 4 centres: Herbert Macaulay Library, Yaba; Ilupeju Public Library, Ilupeju; Isolo Public Library, Isolo; and Onikan Youth Centre, Lagos Island.

SystemSpecs, developers of Remita – an innovative electronic payment solution, is a sponsor of the CodeLagos initiative and one of Nigeria’s leading investors in technology capacity development.