In strengthening STEAM education for young learners in and out of school across Nigeria, Coderina has in partnership with the Nigerian National Library Authority decided to equip the National Library, Bauchi with digital facilities.
The equipping of the National Library, Bauchi brings to five the number of libraries Coderina has provided with digital access; one in each of the six geopolitical zones. The launch of the one in Enugu is planned for December to complete the initiative’s first phase.
Speaking at the launch in Bauchi, which had in attendance, students and education stakeholders, the National Librarian/CEO National Library of Nigeria, Professor Chinwe Veronica Anunobi, stated, “The concept of a library as space constantly evolves over the years as libraries transform from purely paper-based to a blend of paper and digital. They are moving to the next stage, which involves resourcing libraries to become venues for informal science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) education, hosting programs and exhibits that inspire children and adults alike, and supporting them in their lifelong learning.”
The project’s goal is to provide equal access to all children and ensure that no child is left behind irrespective of social, gender, or economic background. We plan to create an enablement path for every youth in the country and provide much-needed opportunities to all.
The STEAM centers at the National Libraries of Nigeria in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Lagos, and Kaduna have become safe and secure places for young people looking to experience robotics, Virtual Reality, 3D printing, Coding, and other emerging technologies in a hands-on, mind-on format.
Students visiting the National Library at Yaba center have an opportunity to design and 3D-Print their own toys, thanks to a 3D printer and scanner donated by FORD USA.
They can also experience FIRST programs (FIRST LEGO League Challenge for 9-16, FLL Explore for 6-9, and FLL Discover for 4-6) through the equipment made available by the FIRST STEM Equity grant for students in underserved communities.
It is a significant success to have been able to bring life-changing learning opportunities to learners from every background in not only one but five out of the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.
At the event, Mr. Femi Niyi, Board Chair Coderina, stated, “we are also grateful to SAP for providing additional robot kits for Lagos, Kaduna, and Enugu States.”
He further stresses that “according to the vision of the Founder of Coderina, who is the brain behind this great initiative, the aim is to grow the program and scale to all National Library locations across Nigeria to democratize digital literacy and demystify emerging technologies for all learners.”
Starting January 2023, we will open these centers to adults 18-35 as free resource centers for upskilling, reskilling, and weekend entrepreneurship boot camps.
In addition, we are calling on all well-meaning organizations to partner with us to provide job-shadowing and internship opportunities to trainees participating in the different cohorts of the job-readiness skills program for 18-35-year-olds.