Edo Govt, Curators Varsity, others train 47 teachers on coding

…700 students earmarked for data science training

The Edo State Government in partnership with Curators University, and support from Google and Africa Code Week, has trained 47 school teachers on coding, to improve their ability to deliver quality education in schools across the state.

Programme Manager for Curators University’s Tekly programme, Mr. Tomiwa Adegbola, said the firm has a partnership with EdoJobs, the state government’s job creation platform, to train Edo youth in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.

He added that the firm secured funding from Google via Africa Code Week to train over 700 students on computer skills in Benin City.

“We have engaged 47 teachers and we are training them on Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and expect the teachers in the next two weeks to pass the knowledge to at least 20 students in their various schools,” he said.

He explained that such training programmes have become important because of the proliferation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in daily life, noting “Our job is to prepare the students for the future, impacting them with digital skills to enable them withstand the challenges that are to come.”

He said, “We have also been training youth in the state every month on Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.”

A teacher from Niger College, Mr. Gregory Anakhu, commended the state government for the initiative, and said that the training was very interesting.

“We were taught programming and the target is to transfer the knowledge to the students to enable them develop the desired interest in it.”

He added that the world is going digital so the knowledge is needed to keep pace with global developments.

Mrs. Odaro Patience, from Itohan Girls’ Grammar School, said the programme has exposed them to the importance of coding, expressing her readiness to transfer the knowledge to her students.