As part of efforts to reduce unemployment and provide youths with employable skills, Ihifix Digital Academy in Kaduna has graduated 40 individuals in software development, product design, and data analytics.
The graduates include secondary school leavers, undergraduate students, bankers, housewives, and others who were trained for several months in various tech-related skills.
One of the course instructors disclosed that, as a graduation requirement, the students were tasked with identifying a problem in their surroundings and solving it using their IT skills.
Notable projects by the students include: Diety, an app to simplify meal planning for individuals with specific dietary needs; Rental App to enhance rental property management by streamlining tenant-landlord communication, rent payments, and maintenance management.
Other projects carried out by the graduates includes creation of TradeCrafts, a platform supporting young artisans and entrepreneurs by showcasing their handmade creations and providing access to mentorship and among others.
Founder of the Academy, Emmanuel Adikpe, stated that the graduates are job-ready and can apply their skills wherever they find themselves. “We will not stop until you get a job,” Adikpe said.
“Learning is not the end. Learning precedes earning. Make productive use of what you have learned.” He also mentioned that graduates would be working as interns with the academy.
“Graduating from Ihifix Digital Academy marks the beginning of a new chapter. These graduates are now equipped with in-demand skills and ready to make their mark in the tech industry. Ihifix Digital Academy is more than just an institution; it’s a community dedicated to fostering future leaders through technology and education. Our flexible learning model accommodates busy schedules, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to thrive,” Adikpe added.
Salimi Muzai, an instructor and software engineer, expressed his pride in the students. “I’m impressed by how far they have come. As long as they keep the fire burning and stay consistent, they will make an impact in the world.” Muzai acknowledged the challenges of the training, noting the high standards set to prepare students for global competition. “The willingness of the students to learn gave us the push we needed.”
In an interview with newsmen on the sideline of the graduation, Fatima Mohamed Kabir, a 19-year-old mathematics student from Kaduna State University (KASU) and a graduate in software engineering, said the program had significantly impacted her life. “I’m confident I will become self-employed because I now have the requisite skill set.”
Jonathan Chris, a 16-year-old data analyst, whose final project won the best award, joined Ihifix after completing his school leaving certificate exams.
“I joined Ihifix because I love research and building dashboards. It was a great opportunity for me to understand the field better. I’ve been able to build a community for myself on X as a data analyst and won the best innovative project in data analytics at Ihifix.”
Chris detailed the tools and languages he learned, including spreadsheets, Python, R, SQL, and Power BI. “My main aim is to apply my ideas and innovation to drive business success and optimise efficiency. I can work anywhere as a data analyst since my job is to maximise growth.”
His award-winning project focused on digital pedagogy, integrating tech into teaching methods. “My motivation is to help others enter the tech field and to advance digital education in Nigeria, which is still developing.”
Chris encouraged fellow youth to be motivated and embrace tech, emphasising its potential to stimulate national economic growth.
Meanwhile, Keynote speaker at the graduation ceremony, Dr. John Aliu spoke to the graduates in the spirit of entrepreneurship.
The keynote speaker who challenged the graduates on believing in their crafts also tasked them on setting right goals, innovativeness and persistence as he said “failure cannot live with persistence. You are too loaded to be wasted, he told the graduates.”
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