By Femi Bolaji

JALINGO — A total of 212 students from public and low-income private schools in Taraba State, alongside Internally Displaced Children (IDPs) in Borno, have been equipped with foundational Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) skills.

The ten- and five-day intensive boot camps, respectively, were organised by Marben Foundation and its partners, focusing on digital literacy, coding, and artificial intelligence.

In Borno, participants were drawn from two IDP camps with the goal of initiating a digital revolution that could extend to other disadvantaged displaced children in the state.

Executive Director of Marben Foundation, Elisha Dorcas, highlighted that children in IDP camps are among the most digitally disadvantaged in Nigeria. Supported by The Destiny Trust, GAMSU, and KingMakers, the foundation designed the boot camps to bridge this gap.

She said the initiative exposes beneficiaries to early technology education, fosters creativity, and nurtures an interest in science and innovation.

“Over 75% of participants at the Borno IDP boot camp are first-time computer users, while in Taraba, 40% are first-time users,” Dorcas noted. “This boot camp revealed the immense potential of our children when given the opportunity, and we are committed to ensuring that no child is left behind in the digital age. It was heartening to see their enthusiasm and eagerness to continue learning digitally.”

Dorcas appealed to government agencies, development partners, and the private sector to support the expansion of STEAM education nationwide. She also called for countrywide adoption of digital literacy programs, stronger CSO–government collaboration, and increased investment in educational technology infrastructure in public schools.

During the boot camps, participants engaged in hands-on sessions covering basic computer literacy, HTML/CSS coding, Scratch programming, online communication tools, and responsible internet usage. By the end of the program, students were able to send emails, navigate Microsoft Office tools, and apply digital creativity to solve real-world problems.