The Institute of ICT Professionals Ghana (IIPGH) successfully hosted its Coding Festival 2024 on September 21, bringing together children, teenagers, parents, educators, and tech enthusiasts from across the country and beyond. This virtual event, themed “Development through Coding, Exposure, and Mentorship,” aimed to inspire young minds and equip them with the tools necessary to succeed in an increasingly digital world.
The festival was a resounding success, with a remarkable turnout of 217 attendees and active participation throughout the sessions. The enthusiasm and dedication of participants, many of whom stayed for the full five hours, left a lasting impression on everyone involved. From the opening ceremony to the closing activity, the event underscored the importance of coding and digital literacy in shaping Africa’s next generation.
The Vision Behind the Festival
The primary goal of Coding Festival 2024 was to expose young people to the transformative power of technology and innovation while fostering discussions on the business potential of coding programs in Africa. As the world becomes more digital, learning to code and acquiring digital skills are essential for young people. These skills not only prepare them for future careers but also encourage creative thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Additionally, the festival offered opportunities for mentorship and professional development for both students and educators. IIPGH created an inclusive environment where everyone, regardless of background or ability, had access to quality education in ICT.
Key Sessions of the Festival
The festival featured various sessions tailored to meet the needs of participants, from beginners to those with more advanced coding knowledge.
One of the key highlights was the Free Coding Session, where participants had the option to join either the Scratch or Web Design breakout rooms. Elizabeth Boakye led the Scratch session, showing students how to create animations, games, and stories. Meanwhile, Joshua Gblorkpor guided participants in web design, teaching them how to build simple websites. Both sessions were interactive, with students following along as the tutors demonstrated on their screens.
Deborah Ofori-Dartey moderated a Scratch Education Collaborative (SEC) Info Session. This session introduced participants to the goals of the SEC program, which aims to provide high-quality Scratch learning experiences worldwide. Attendees learned how organizations can join future cohorts and benefit from the program’s resources.
Next, Desmond Kitsi, Founder and CEO of Genius IT Foundation, led a session for parents, discussing the importance of introducing children to coding at an early age. Parents gained valuable insights on how and when to introduce their children to coding, empowering them to make informed decisions about their children’s education.
Following this, the Administrative Director of IIPGH presented an overview of the IIPGH Coding Program, highlighting the Coding Education for Ghana Initiative’s impact since its launch in 2017. This session showcased how the program has influenced coding education in Ghana.
Afterward, members of the IIPGH Coding Alumni (ICA) group shared their journeys from being students in the IIPGH Coding Program to becoming university students pursuing STEM-related fields. Moderated by Vince Churchill Ankrah, this emotional session gave participants a glimpse into how the coding program had influenced the alumni’s academic and career choices.
Following a short break, participants could join one of three breakout sessions facilitated by Joshua Opoku Agyemang (IoT Network Hub), George Osei Yeboah (Ghana Code Club), and Samuel Kofi Mensah (Asustem Robotics). These sessions introduced participants to topics like the Internet of Things (IoT) and robotics, while also giving them insight into the activities of these organizations.
In a session on Online Safety, Godsway Kubi, a cybersecurity analyst, taught participants practical ways to stay safe online, recognize cyber threats, and protect their personal data. This timely session was particularly important given the increasing reliance on digital platforms.
The festival also featured a Mentorship Session led by Juliana Ametorwogo, Director of IIPGH’s Women’s Wing. She engaged students with discussions on time management and the importance of embodying positive values like kindness, love, and forgiveness in their everyday lives.
For educators, a Professional Development Session was facilitated by IIPGH’s Scratch Education Collaborative Partners from the STEM Impact Center, Kenya. Patricia Wanjiru and Maxwell Kamau shared their experiences in using innovative teaching strategies to engage students in coding, providing tutors with fresh ideas for their classrooms.
Panel Discussion: Scaling Coding Programs in Ghana
The panel discussion featuring representatives from IIPGH, STEM Impact Center Kenya, IoT Network Hub, and Ghana Code Club tackled the challenges and opportunities in scaling coding programs in Ghana. The panel highlighted the need to gamify coding to keep students engaged, as game-based learning makes coding fun and accessible.
Panelists also discussed the importance of securing resources, infrastructure, and funding, particularly in underserved areas. Solutions proposed included partnerships with tech hubs and institutions, as well as the commercialization of student projects to ensure long-term sustainability. IIPGH’s Coding Caravan Initiative, which introduces coding to primary school students, was mentioned as a successful effort to bridge the digital divide and make coding more accessible.
Protecting Your Digital Footprint
An insightful session was delivered by Nana Adjoa Adobea Khartey, Senior Partner at Afrimore Advisors, on the topic of “Protecting Your Digital Footprint: Data Privacy and Law.” In this session, participants learned about safeguarding personal data in the digital age. Nana Adjoa emphasized strategies like managing privacy settings on social media, being mindful of the information shared online, and understanding the legal frameworks surrounding data protection. Participants were encouraged to take proactive steps to secure their digital identities.
Coding Projects Competition
The Coding Projects Competition gave students the opportunity to showcase the skills they had learned throughout their time on the IIPGH Coding Program. A panel of judges led by Stephen Darkwah evaluated the projects based on creativity, problem-solving, and technical execution. The top three winners, Emmanuel Wolsley, Adjoa Turkson, and Sefam Agbenyega, earned free coding sessions with IIPGH as their reward.
Looking Ahead: Coding Festival 2025
After the success of the 2024 festival, IIPGH plans to make the Coding Festival an annual event, with the 2025 edition being a hybrid in-person and virtual event. It believes that coding, exposure, and mentorship are critical to preparing the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers. This will offer participants more opportunities for hands-on learning, mentorship, and networking, further enriching the experience.
A Call for Partners: Join Us for Coding Festival 2025
As preparations begin for Coding Festival 2025, IIPGH is calling on organizations, institutions, and companies to partner with us. Together, we can continue inspiring young minds and equipping them with the digital skills they need to succeed in an ever-evolving tech world.
By partnering with IIPGH, you can:
- Support STEM education and youth development.
- Gain visibility in the educational and technology sectors.
- Contribute to building a future-ready workforce.
- Foster inclusivity in digital education.
We invite corporate sponsors, educational institutions, tech companies, and government agencies to join us in this mission. For partnership inquiries, please contact us at deborah.dartey@iipgh.org or info@iipgh.org.
Conclusion
Coding Festival 2024 was a tremendous success, marking a significant milestone in IIPGH’s mission to promote digital literacy and innovation. With ongoing support from partners, educators, and participants, we look forward to making Coding Festival 2025 even more impactful. Together, we will continue this journey of growth, innovation, and empowerment through coding.
The Institute of ICT Professionals, Ghana (IIPGH) is a professional association made up of professionals in various domains of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) practice. Some services offered include Digital Skills Education, ICT Consultancy and Solutions for Business, Curriculum Reviews for Educational Institutions, IT Human Resource Provision, among others. Visit our website – https://iipgh.org/ to learn more.
Author: Deborah Ofori-Dartey
The writer is the Digital Skills Training Supervisor at the Institute of ICT Professionals Ghana with about 5 years of experience engaging children ages 6 years – 14 years in Creative Coding Experiences.
For comments, contact deborah.dartey@iipgh.org or info@iipgh.org