By peter oluka
The vision of building students' career in Information Technology from primary, secondary to tertiary level is a metamorphosis for true professionalism.
This is what the Schools Computer Club Initiative (SCCI) stands for, said Mr. Adesina Adewale, president of the Initiative, adding that metamorphosis of students from primary, secondary to becoming members of the Nigerian Association of Computer Science Students (NACOSS) and consequently becoming IT professionals in Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) and the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) can not be overemphasised.
Adewale made the remarks during the grand finale of month-long activities to mark the 10th anniversary of SCCI, noting that they are primarily concerned with assisting members, drawn from primary and secondary schools, to build and take up a career in ICT instead of a one-vendor program.
He expressed optimisms that, the computer Club members in primary and Secondary schools are exposed to build careers in graphics design, animation, games, web designs, programming,/software development, computer engineering and networking, robotics, information security and management, cyber safety, digital marketing, social media, multimedia technologies, mobile apps development, big data, health information technology, database administration, among others.
The SCCI President enumerated some of the success stories since inception as include raising students for academic excellence in National Information Technology Whizkids Competition by the Nigeria Computer Society since 2009; partnership with Code Week Nigeria; partnership with the International Code Club, United States; partnership with Youth Mind Alignment Initiative, Oyo State.
Other are, massive e-learning content delivery and technical support; empowerment of 'technovators' and 'techpreneeurs' at primary, secondary and tertiary levels; admission of ICT teachers at primary and secondary schools into Nigeria Computer Society and CPN, respectively and observing ICT days in schools.
Tracing the history of the Initiative, Adewale recalled, "Our humble beginning was purely analog hen we started in 2007. Production and dissemination of learning resources to students and their ICT teachers were through papers, CD-ROMS and scratch cards.
"There was nothing like Schools Computer Club Summit where 'technovative' minds from different schools will converge and network to share their 'technovations'. However, God orchestrated our digital upgrade when we came up with Computer Education World Magazine with the tremendous contributions from Professor Charles Uwadia who was the director of Center for Information Technology and Systems, University of Lagos, coupled with the enormity of sacrifices he had to pay as the President of NCS.
"If Charles Babbage is the father of computers, we proudly call Professor Charles Onuwa Uwadia the father of children and youth technovation! CITS was used as venue for seven Schools Computer Club Summits during his tenure as Director at CITS.
"Mr. Jide Awe's contribution to the magazine were immeasurable. Nigeria Computer Society in collaboration with the London Metropolitan University organised a seminar to encourage students to build and take up careers in ICT. This opened the opportunity for SCCI to invite students to the program".
To champion the course of 'technovation' in Nigeria Schools Computer Clubs, he solicited that SCCI should be given adequate support by all stakeholders.
In his goodwill message, Mr. Iyiola Ayoola, executive secretary, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), said that SCCI has become a strong avenue to advocate for STEM among pupils, which is the opium of NCS' existence.
He said that NCS has lived to its core mandate of advocating for IT professionals be given their deserved roles in the society.
According to him, from SCCI to NACOSS, the Nigerian society must recognise the need to give adequate training to its people irrespective of gender, stressing that IT has becomes the bedrock of economic development.
He said that as 'elders' in the society, professionals in the industry must fight for infrastructural development to enable even opportunities for the pupils.
Also speaking, Darcy Zotter, public affairs officer, United State Consulate, Lagos, encourage the students to be serious in their desires to pick up careers in IT; admonishing them that as technology changes, job requisitions change, requiring skilled workforce.
She said that the United State Government would always support educational initiatives in Nigeria, particularly those in line with technological advancement.
On his part, Mr Adeoye Aderogba, Aderogba Adeoye, pioneer president , Information Technology Security and Systems Professionals (ITSSP), scored SCCI high in its efforts to help the students toe the path to IT professionalism.
He also appreciated the teachers for their resilience and efforts to train the pupils even in an unconducive environment, adding that all efforts must be geared towards inculcating IT consciousness in the pupils.
Both primary and secondary school pupils who developed different gaming programs made presentation at the event.
High point of the occasion of the presentation of IT Pioneer Awards to Aderogba Adeoye, pioneer president , Information Technology Security and Systems Professionals (ITSSP) and Mr. Marcus Iyiola Ayoola, executive secretary of NCS.
