The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) is calling on parents across Nigeria to register their children for the 2025 Build-A-Thon Holiday Camp.
An intensive technology training programme designed for young people aged 10 to 18, the Build-A-Thon Holiday Camp begins on Monday, August 4, 2025.
The programme, focused on practical skills like coding, robotics, and Internet of Things (IoT), aims to help Nigerian children explore the world of technology in a hands-on environment. Unlike ordinary school lessons, this initiative promises students direct access to technology labs, DIY kits, and real-life project workshops.
After training over 5,000 children in its debut year, the government now plans to train another 2,000 students across three cities, Abeokuta, Abuja FCT, and Kano, with expansion to additional cities expected later in the year.
“This programme is about more than just learning. It’s about building, connecting, and inspiring young minds to shape their own futures,” said Dr. Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “From Monday, 4th August, we are inviting children aged 10 to 18 to spend their holidays learning, building, and bonding with peers from across Nigeria.”
Participants won’t just be sitting in classrooms. Using technology kits and collaborative workshops, children will work directly on projects to introduce them to modern maker culture, the idea of creating rather than simply consuming technology. The programme also exposes them to digital concepts through real-world applications that encourage innovation.
The camp is not restricted to children living in the host cities. Parents from anywhere in Nigeria are eligible to register their children through the official portal.
Dr. Tijani spoke on the camp’s objective: “We can’t wait to welcome even more future makers and innovators as we build the future — one child, one line of code at a time.”
Beyond the Build-A-Thon, the ministry’s tech capacity-building drive includes the well-known 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, which targets the upskilling of three million Nigerians in digital competencies. These range from software-focused skills like coding and UI/UX design to digital marketing, cloud platform management, data analysis, and CRM operations.
The Build-A-Thon, however, stands out for targeting the younger demographic early, aiming to plant the seeds of tech innovation in Nigerian children while they’re still in school.