An IT company known as Decagon has said it is out with a mission to get Nigeria to the same level with the top five software technology countries in the world with the aim of solving national and international problems by imparting in the students the essential technological knowledge that is similar to what can be got from renowned Silicon Valley.
Founded about a year, the programme can boast of seven engineers who are called ‘decadevs,’ having completed their training and another 22 on the verge of the completion of their programmes. On August 5, another set of 43 students commenced a six-month programme at the Nigeria’s emerging Silicon Valley.
This programme, which is planned with the aim of having at least 5,000 students in its first year and 30,000 in about ten years, is designed to have its trained students support at least a student each, after the completion of their programmes.
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The founder of Decagon, Mr Chika Nwobi, who spoke to newsmen at an interactive session, said he was inspired by the technological advancement and financial benefits that had been generated for the top technological countries in the world, citing United States of America, England, Poland, Israel and Ukraine as instances.
While reacting on what inspired him to start the company, he said, the ecosystem of US and Tel-Aviv had foundations in which their youths had experienced the foundation which included but not limited to their exposition to technology right from the outset of their lives.
While speaking for her organization, Head of Strategy, Sterling Bank, Khafil Animashaun, said: “It’s a move by the organization to support alternative education by providing the loans for Nigeria students with financial literacy. For the success of this, we have earmarked N10bn for the project and so far, we have been doing this not only for Decagon, but all the eligible Nigerians with a subsided interest”.
Among the other partners present was Mainone Company that facilitates a free internet for the students. [THE NATION]
