Expert seeks inclusion of tech education in school curriculum

A UK-based tech expert, Mr Gabriel Iruaga, has called for the inclusion of technological education in Nigeria’s school curriculum.

Iruaga, the founder of Embold Lab and Chief Executive Officer of Rendcore Technology, made the call in an interview with our reporter on Wednesday in Lagos.

Iruaga said getting schoolchildren involved in tech education from an early age would help to build the sector’s growth in Nigeria.

“When I think about integrating tech into Nigerian schools, I picture a six-year-old child in Benin City, curious about her mother’s phone.

“Instead of scolding her, imagine a classroom where that same curiosity is guided into learning safe internet use, storytelling apps, or even simple logic games.

“That is where it begins — at the nursery and primary school levels, by turning curiosity into digital literacy. By secondary school, students should be building things.

“In our Embold bootcamps, teenagers are already coding websites, sketching wireframes, and running digital campaigns.

“If Nigerian schools adopted a project-based model — where students work in teams, just as they would in real life — we would be preparing them not just to pass exams, but to solve problems and create value.

“At the university level, the goal should be readiness. Courses in data analytics, product design, cybersecurity, or AI should come with mentorship and internships so by graduation, students already have projects and experiences,” the expert said.

Irugua said: “If we can make this work in villages and small towns, then it can certainly work in our school curriculums with the right support.”

According to him, the benefits of tech education are endless and should be tapped into early.

“Too many people see tech as a lottery ticket. The truth is, tech is not magic — it is a tool. The benefit of tech is not instant wealth. It is an opportunity.

“It is the ability for someone in Maiduguri to design logos for clients in Abuja, or a farmer in Kaduna to market produce online, or a graduate in Lagos to analyse data for a Canadian firm — all without leaving their hometown.

“Tech education is like learning a trade skill, like carpentry. Your phone or laptop is your toolbox. The more you practice, the better you get, and the more valuable your work becomes. That way, people see tech as a craft, not a fantasy,” Iruaga said.

He noted that Embold through its boot camps, had trained over 10,000 young people in tech education bridging the gap in digital divides.

“When we launched Embold Lab in 2023 formerly Embold Design, the vision was simple: create a classroom without borders. Today, that vision has grown into a community of over 10,000 young people trained across multiple cohorts.

“We have delivered over 50 live training sessions, multiple mentorship sessions, guiding students through hands-on projects with a 95 per cent completion rate.

“65 per cent of our alumni go on to internships, and 60 per cent land jobs within six months. About 15 per cent even start their own businesses, like Jane from Ghana who joined as a digital marketer and now runs her own small agency.

“But the real secret is the mentor–mentee bond. Professionals working in companies across Africa, Europe, and the U.S. dedicate their time to mentor our students,” he said.

“To date, we have seen 1,500+ testimonials flood in across LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For me, each of those numbers represents a story of transformation — someone who refused to be left behind in Africa’s digital revolution.

“If Nigeria is serious about bridging its digital gap, the government must stop trying to reinvent the wheel and instead work with the ecosystems that are already succeeding.

“Think of what could happen if every state government partnered with EdTech platforms such as Embold Lab, ALX, Andela, and Decagon.

“We could take proven boot camps and mentorship models and bring them directly into secondary schools and universities.

“Telecom companies such as MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile could step in by offering zero-rated data access to learning platforms, so students in rural areas can study without worrying about internet costs.

“Global players such as Google, Microsoft, and Meta could set up innovation hubs in our universities and provide cloud credits, tools, and training.

“SMEs could be incentivised with tax breaks to hire local tech talent, creating jobs faster. And with partners like the World Bank and African Union, we could build community-based innovation labs in underserved regions,” Iruaga said.