Firm train teachers on BBC Micro:bit

A firm, Almond Careers, has formerly introduced in Nigeria BBC Micro:bits weekend teachers’ training.
The Micro:bit, according to the firm, is a pocket-sized codeable computer, designed to encourage young students to become creative with technology.
Speaking at the training, Almond Careers’ Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Henry Mbadiwe, said Micro:bit would bring coding to life and help students see how codes could be practically applied to everyday life.
He explained that with the introduction of the device in UK, which he was part of, his company was set to bring the same technology into Nigeria in line with the demands by the states and Federal Government to get technology into schools in Nigeria.
Mbadiwe said, “As part of the project team that worked on the Micro:bit in the UK and saw its successes, Almond careers is on the mission to replicate that same success in the country by starting with the teachers training, which will in turn teach the students.
“Nowadays, computing and digital technology can be found almost everywhere, but the emphasis seems to have shifted from creation of technology to the consumption of it. The Micro:bits is designed to reposition the emphasis to technology creation.
“It is something the BBC and micro:bits don’t want to do because it has not come to Africa, but I insisted because I’m part of the team and my company is doing it alone.
“We have been paying for it ourselves and we are not complaining because I believe there is real chance that Nigeria can actually step up in terms of technology.”
He explained further that the aim was to make children fall in love with coding and technology.
“It is not coding in theory anymore, it is now a practical application to life,” he said.
On whether the firm was ready to collaborate with the government, Mbadiwe said the government needed to see the need for it and be willing to do some work, “then we can talk of partnering with the government.”
On the benefit of the application, the IT expert said there was no limit to what children could do, adding, “In Nigeria, we use things built by people, but now we need to begin to train our people to build our own and that is when children’s education comes in.”