Sterling Bank tasks companies on digital knowledge gap

The Head of Strategy and Communications of Sterling Bank, Mr Shina Atilola, on Friday told corporate bodies to make investments to bridge the digital knowledge gap in the country.
Announcing the bank’s partnership with AUDAX Code School for the 2016 Coding programme in Lagos, Atilola said that digital skills would empower students and teachers in urban and rural areas.
He said that the bank’s partnership on the coding programme was designed to improve digital literacy through coding in a fun and collaborative environment for primary and secondary school students.
The banker said the programme would foster creative thinking skills through information and communications technology.
According to him, it will also boost learning and encourage careers of under-privileged youths through Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education.
Atilola said that Sterling Bank remained committed to the code school initiative and other similar projects that would advance the development of human capital, especially among the youth.
He recalled that the bank had in the past, partnered with the company to organise the Computer Science Education Week Hour of Code.
Atilola said that the bank also organised a free-boot camp for kids and adults to spread awareness of the need for computer science education among youths.
“We are particularly delighted to support this project because children who took part in the programme raised our hope.
“They proved that we still have a crop of children with potential to be among the best in the world in the area of information technology, if given the right exposure and encouragement.
In a statement, AUDAX Code School said that the company in its two-year lifespan, had achieved milestones that underscored its potential with the right partnerships.
According to the school, some of the milestones include the 2014 Google Rise Award winners for computer science education and Ambassadors in Nigeria for Africa Code Week.
It said that under the Ambassadors for Africa Code Week event orchestration and support, it had trained 2000 children in private and public schools, orphanages and non-governmental organisations