The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in partnership with the Centre for Information and Telecommunication Engineering (CITE), University of Port Harcourt, has concluded the CITE-NITDA Tech Stars 2026 training programme, equipping young Nigerians with practical skills in emerging technologies.
The one-month intensive programme, held in Port Harcourt, formed part of a wider technology training initiative implemented across five locations, including Kwara, Jigawa, Gombe and Kano States, where similar programmes were concluded last week.
The training targeted primary, junior and senior secondary school students, exposing them to foundational and practical skills in Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, coding, data science and other digital competencies.
According to NITDA, the initiative is aimed at strengthening digital literacy among young Nigerians while identifying and nurturing technology talents capable of contributing to the country’s growing digital economy.
Beyond classroom instruction, participants were engaged in practical exercises designed to develop creativity, computational thinking and problem-solving abilities, giving them an early opportunity to explore technologies that are shaping the future of work and innovation.
At the Port Harcourt closing ceremony, participants received certificates in recognition of their successful completion of the programme, while outstanding students in various categories received special prizes, including laptop computers and tablets.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Chike Princewill Chike, congratulated the participants for successfully completing the training and urged them to put their newly acquired skills to productive use.
He challenged the graduands to move beyond learning technology to developing practical solutions to real-world socio-economic challenges confronting their communities and the nation.
The Vice-Chancellor also encouraged the students to remain committed to continuous learning, explore emerging technologies and harness their creativity in contributing to Nigeria’s digital transformation.
The conclusion of the CITE-NITDA Tech Stars 2026 programme underscores the growing emphasis on early digital education as NITDA and its partners seek to build a pipeline of young technology innovators capable of driving Nigeria’s digital economy.
