On Friday, September 4, 2026, children and teenagers took center stage at the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Information Technology Hub (NITHub), University of Lagos, as they unveiled projects that proved technology is not just for adults, it is a playground for creativity at every age.
The event for the unveiling of the projects by the young innovators was the graduation ceremony of the 2026 NITKids and NITTeens cohorts. However, it was more than a ceremony, it was a celebration of imagination, innovation, and the boundless potential of young minds.
From Learners to Innovators
The NITKids and NITTeens cohorts, comprising 11 children and 39 teenagers, had spent four weeks immersed in the world of coding, and on project defense and graduation day, they proudly presented their work to parents and guardians.
Their projects showcased remarkable ingenuity: a motion detector alarm system, a daily mood tracker, an embedded system security switch, an ultrasonic distance sensor, a speed-tapping reaction game, and even a secret message decoder. Each project was a spark of creativity, leaving the audience in awe of what the young learners had achieved in just one month.
Bootcamp Graduates Build Real-World Solutions
The spotlight was also on the 50 secondary school students of the NITHub Coding Bootcamp, who had completed a 10-week intensive programme in front-end development and Artificial Intelligence.Divided into five groups, they presented polished, real-world applications, including:
- Veloura (an e-commerce website),
- AfricaReel (a movie ticket booking app),
- Crave It (a fast-food delivery app),
- Flowdesk (a to-do list application), and
- Dove Hotels (a hotel booking site)
The room buzzed with excitement as parents applauded the students and their instructors. One parent asked if the skills could already be monetized, a testament to how industry-ready the projects looked. Prof. Babatunde Sawyerr, faculty member of the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Faculty of Computing and Informatics, remarked: “I am impressed by what I saw today. Many of the things we teach in the university are things these children are learning now.” His words captured the pride and promise of the moment.
“Can Adults Learn Too?”
Parents had many questions pointing towards another layer of curiosity: could adults also learn these skills, especially in building websites without code? Mr. Kingsley Ogbonna, NITHub Training Manager, explained that the programmes were designed to ignite interest and provide a strong foundation. He assured parents that the hub would explore opportunities for adult-friendly training, so guardians can join their children on the coding journey.
Preparing Talent for the Future
Closing the event, NITHub Director, Professor Victor Odumuyiwa reminded everyone of the hub’s mission: to prepare talent for the future, not just as programmers but as innovators. He emphasized that the world has moved beyond digital literacy to digital dexterity, the ability to adapt swiftly across technologies.
With Artificial Intelligence reshaping industries, he urged parents to encourage their wards to keep learning, keep practicing, and keep dreaming.
The event concluded with the presentation of certificates, photographs, and most importantly, a renewed sense of possibility. For these children and teenagers, coding is no longer abstract. It is a tool to build, to solve, and to imagine. For their parents, it was a glimpse into a future where their children are not just consumers of technology, but creators of it.
Author: Ndidi J. Odinikaeze
Photographer: Islamiat Akanni
