By Milcah Tanimu

The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy has wrapped up its pioneering Build-A-Thon initiative, a groundbreaking effort introducing senior secondary school students to embedded systems and the maker culture. Conducted in Owerri, Maiduguri, and Abeokuta, this initiative underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to fostering digital literacy and skill development.

In collaboration with the Raspberry Pi Foundation, a UK-based non-governmental organization (NGO), and with the support of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the Build-A-Thon aimed to equip 1,500 students with the skills essential for stimulating critical thinking and promoting teamwork through dynamic technology collaboration.

The four-day event, commencing on January 22, 2024, immersed students in hands-on learning experiences, focusing on Raspberry Pi usage, embedded systems, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

The initiative incorporated a diverse learning ecosystem, featuring technology labs, DIY boxes, and workshops, providing students with practical insights and real-world applications of the acquired skills.

Dignitaries such as Professor John-Cliff Nwadike, Dr. Chimezie Amadi, Professor Abayomi Arigbabu, and Engineer Lawan Abba Wakilbe inaugurated the opening day in each state, expressing high praise for the initiative. They commended the Federal Ministry for driving digital education and wished participants success, urging them to leverage the newly acquired skills.

Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, expressed pride in the outcome of the Build-A-Thon, emphasizing that the innovative prototype projects created within four days exemplify the belief that investing in youth today will lead to a more technologically advanced and innovative Nigeria tomorrow.

Dr. Tijani highlighted the broader impact of such initiatives, connecting with ongoing Code Clubs, a collaborative effort with the Raspberry Pi Foundation, spanning 17 locations in Nigeria. These Code Clubs are part of a global movement dedicated to empowering young minds with computing and digital making skills.

The successful completion of the Build-A-Thon program showcased a range of programmed prototypes, including smart homes, speedboats, automated parking lots, heartbeat monitors, robotic hands for the disabled, digital timer alarm systems, coin banks, electric cars, smart doors, and devices to alert the visually and hearing impaired in dangerous situations.

On Demo Day, each school presented their product prototypes for assessment, with awards presented to outstanding students and teams. Notable projects included a functional speedboat and rechargeable fan/light, a smart home for people with disabilities, and a smart home for internally displaced persons.

The initiative’s success aligns with the Federal Ministry’s commitment to advancing Nigeria’s digital economy, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.