Sterling Bank Plc has partnered Decagon Software Engineering in upskilling 5,000 Nigerian graduates in order to bridge the demand gap for Software Engineers.
Speaking at a briefing in Lagos, Mr Chika Nwobi, founder, Decagon Software Engineering, said that the training is necessary due to the huge demand for software engineers globally as Nigerian youths are known to be talented and smart on the field.
Nwobi noted that the training is made easier due to the partnership with Sterling Bank where soft loans are given to the students.
He said the loan only attracted minimal interest rate which would be paid by the students after they might have been gainfully employed.
“We have been able to do this through partnerships with Sterling Bank and other organisations.
“The target of the firm was to train 5,000 world-class software engineers in the first five years of its existence.
“We made arrangements for the students’ upkeep, feeding, accommodation and monthly stipends.
Nwobi said that upon completion of their programmes, automatic employment opportunities would be provided for the students as Decagon sources for corporate organisations and institutions in need of software developers.
He noted that this is to transform Nigeria into one of the most respected sources of elite software engineering talents in the world.
“So far, we have trained seven software developers for the first set, 22 for the second set and another 29 this set.
“Our vision is to be the refinery that will transform exceptional talents from different backgrounds into elite software developers, leaders, positioning Nigeria as the preferred source for software talents, while solving the nation’s local problems with software solutions,” he said.
Speaking also, Miss Khafil Animashaun, head of Strategy, Sterling Bank said that Nigerian universities have failed to produce the quality of graduates that Nigerian organisations need.
“Since our universities have failed us in providing the quality of graduates Nigeria labour market deserves, we have come up with ways to assist institutions like Decagon to produce the right kind of graduates,” she said
