Gomycode wants Nigeria to bridge digital skills gap

Education Technology platform, GOMYCODE, is worried that Nigeria needs to bridge the digital skills gap that currently exists in the country in order to compete favourably.

Specifically, Gomycode said about four million job openings are currently in the digital industry globally, stressing that 150 million people in the workforce in Nigeria, other parts of Africa and Middle East do not have the necessary skills in the field.

According to it, while 230 million digital jobs would be available in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030, there would be 200 million youths (15 to 35 years old) in the region, necessitating the need to tap the opportunities that space brings.

To bridge this digital skills gap, Gomycode, at the unveiling of its new hackerspace in Yaba, Lagos, said it planned to open 80 of such spaces and train about 100, 000 students per year by 2024.

General Manager, Gomycode Nigeria, Babatunde Olaifa, said the plan of the firm is to provide a scalable and sustainable educational platform for the youth in Africa and Middle East.

Speaking at the unveiling of the new hackerspace, Olaifa said the place boasts of five floors and has a capacity five times larger than the old one (the previous hackerspace could accommodate 120 students simultaneously, this can accommodate up to 600 students).

Olaifa said the platform is pushing the limits on students’ experience to the next level with three floors of classrooms each dedicated to teaching.

The classrooms are equipped with fiber optics and comfortable equipment for the students’ success. The new hackerspace has a rest and relaxation room for students to balance learning and leisure time; or simply to continue working on their projects. There is also ample parking space in a dedicated garage for students that ensure easier accessibility to the facility.

“This move signals our intentions for and deep commitment to the Nigerian market. Whilst we provide training online through what we call our online ‘hackerspace’, we know from research and our own experience that students prefer in person classes and what we do is to ensure that these classes take place in the best possible spaces”, Olaifa stressed.