Nigeria’s push towards digital empowerment received a major boost through the Bunmi Adedayo Foundation’s STEAM Ahead programme, which has successfully trained more than 500 secondary school students in technology and problem-solving skills.
Designed to enhance creative and digital competencies, STEAM Ahead specifically targets students from low-income backgrounds, aiming to unlock their potential through education.
Among the programme’s success stories is Mary, a secondary school student from Ketu, Lagos, who had once considered giving up on her education due to financial hurdles and limited job prospects in her family. After enrolling in STEAM Ahead, her perspective changed dramatically.
“STEAM Ahead empowered me to believe that I can accomplish great things,” Mary said.
Since the programme began, 90 students—35 of whom are girls—have benefited from its hands-on training, while more than 500 others have gained basic digital literacy through the Foundation’s ICT centres in Ketu and Yaba.
Participants in the programme have shown significant academic gains, with reported improvements of up to 30 percent in literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving abilities.
The Foundation credited its successful impact to strategic partners such as Google, Datatec, and Mr. Yombo Peters of Patent Pathway International, all of whom provided key funding and technical support.
Encouraging broader participation, the Foundation urged corporations and philanthropic donors to help scale the programme.
“Many young Nigerians, like Mary, are waiting for an opportunity,” the Foundation stated. “With more support, we can create a lasting impact on education and digital inclusion nationwide.”
