***Envisages a generation of highly skilled tech-savvy future leaders
By Friday Idachaba
In a bid to make digital literacy accessible to all children for a revolution in technology education, RYD-Learning, a virtual learning platform focused on programming education for children, has trained over 1,000 children.
Michael Boyo, Co-founder and Managing Partner of RYD-Learning disclosed this while speaking at the end of a transformative 12-Day Free Digital Literacy Programme for about 300 children in Lagos.
He said that in the organisation’s quest to extend the frontiers of digital Literacy and building future architects of innovation with a commitment to excellence,
RYD Learning aimed at evolving a digital literacy revolution.
The 12-day programme, he said, helped to arm and equip the young minds including children with disabilities, with essential and vital tools of the digital age – programming, interactive communication, and critical thinking.
According to him, RYD-Learning, in partnership with world-class educational organizations, organized training for about 700 children between January and August, to ignite young minds and shape the tech titans of tomorrow.
“RYD Learning is a dynamic virtual learning platform focused on empowering children and teenagers in the age range of 6-17 through hands-on digital literacy and technology education.
“Our mission is to democratize tech education by providing free, accessible, and high-quality training programmes to students, particularly those from underserved communities.
“Since our inception, we have successfully trained over 1,000 children globally, including in Nigeria and the diaspora, helping them build foundational skills in programming, digital literacy, and collaboration.”
He said that the platform’s success in the 12-day programme was a testament to the dedication of its founders and partners, who are united in their vision to empower the next generation of tech-savvy leaders.
Boyo, who shared his thoughts on the mission of the platform said: “As a Computer Science graduate from one of Nigeria’s top universities, I didn’t own a computer until my early 20s.
“This experience showed me how much more advantage great inventors had by accessing computers early in life. Through RYD Learning, we aim to change this narrative for children worldwide.”
Aderonke Iyiola, the Programme Lead, said she was passionate about inspiring and empowering the next generation of tech innovators through dynamic, hands-on learning in coding and digital literacy.
She said that the virtual training would entail cutting-edge curricula implementation and mentorship in an inclusive environment that nurtures creativity, problem-solving and critical thinking, preparing students to excel in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.
Damilola Odunaike, another co-founder, emphasized the importance of a seamless learning experience: “After graduating, I discovered a significant gap in technology education.
“At RYD Learning, I ensure our engineering team builds a platform that makes connecting kids to our facilitators easy, ensuring they have a positive and impactful learning experience”, she said.
Ayodele Aransiola, another co-founder, expressed his commitment to bridging the significant gap in global tech education by introducing children to the tech world early, “so they can grow into future tech leaders.”
John Akadi, and Remi Odunaike, also co-founders of the platform, emphasized critical global need and demand for tech experts as they underscored the importance of nurturing young minds saying, “By setting them on the right path now, we ensure a brighter future for our world.” (Ends)