Codehub Africa Arrives in Ibadan to Take Digital Skills to Underserved Areas

The first physical-digital learning hub from Codehub Africa, the creators of Code School Africa, was formally inaugurated on June 28 in Ibadan, Oyo.

Representatives from the US Consulate General in Lagos, Jennifer-Foltz, the Deputy Public Affairs Officer, Austin Emeanua, the YALI/MWF Co-ordinator, and Dr. Yemisi Adeyeye, the founder of Lifefount Hospital and the President of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs Alumnae Association, attended the event.

From the creator of Codehub Africa

Damilola Oluwatunmise stated that having a physical code center in Ibadan is a dream she has always held, and seeing it come true is proof that anyone can realize their goals with faith, tenacity, and hard effort.

I wanted to make digital skills common to everyone and make it as affordable as possible here in Ibadan. We initially kicked off teaching online but the truth is we quickly realised that while that was great, a physical learning hub was not only better but necessary as it made learning easier for most people. This realisation is what eventually led to this moment.

Damilola Oluwatunmise

When asked about difficulties, Damilola Oluwatunmise explains that “creating this hub was not an easy venture, from locating an adequate location to dealing with brokers and then artisans who can be quite unreliable, it was a lot.

The hard effort paid off, and now we have this hub. I must give credit to the extensive training in financial management, business management, and many other areas that I obtained from the Academy for Women Entrepreneur program sponsored by the US consulate General, of which I was a part in 2021. I was well equipped for this adventure by the knowledge and training I obtained at the academy.

Jenny Foltz, the Deputy Public Affairs Officer at the US Consulate General in Lagos, gave a speech during which she praised Olawatunmise for choosing to support her community by making digital skills accessible and inexpensive in Ibadan.

I am really proud of Damilola and must commend her for doing this here, after the investment of the US consulate through the AWE program, she could have been charging a lot of money to teach these skills but she decided to give back in her way and I must commend her for that. The highpoint for me today has been hearing from the student about how these skills they have picked up here has impacted them, and I look forward to hearing more success stories from these students carrying out such a noble project.

Jenny Holtz

Facilitators, previous students, and current students of the school were all in attendance at the event and provided fantastic feedback on the skills they had learned there and how it had affected their life.

A former student who shared her experience noted that by discovering Code School Africa and picking up a number of digital skills, she was able to land a fully remote position as a Data Analyst with a software company in Florida.

The facilitators urged both current and new students to be committed to learning and put in the necessary effort to accomplish their objectives.