At the forefront of bridging this gap is Wale Atekoja, a Nigerian-born technology expert, entrepreneur, and educator, who is turning his decades of experience in tech into life-changing opportunities for Black children in the UK and Europe.

Atekoja, a Data, AI, and Machine Learning Engineer with over 16 years of experience in software development, database modelling, ERP systems, and business intelligence, is also the CEO of Boardelesstek Limited, a UK-registered technology company.

But beyond corporate success, his most meaningful work comes from mentoring the next generation of digital innovators.

“Technology has always been part of my life,” Atekoja shared in a recent interview. “Both of my parents were software developers. Growing up in that environment shaped the way I think, solve problems, and approach challenges. It also inspired me to teach children, so they can gain skills that truly prepare them for the future.”

Atekoja explained that the first decade of his professional life was spent learning and mastering software development, while the last ten years have been focused on entrepreneurship and capacity building.

This journey allowed him to recognise that technology’s most transformative power lies not in products or profits, but in people.

Through his initiative, Black Kids Coding in the UK (@AtexXeta), Atekoja works with Black parents across the UK and Europe to equip their children with future-ready digital skills. The program teaches children coding, AI, software development, and other tech competencies, enabling them to become creators rather than just consumers of technology.

“When children start learning tech early, they develop confidence and problem-solving skills that can change their life trajectory,” he said. “I want them to see that they can create, innovate, and contribute meaningfully to the digital world.”

Atekoja’s relocation to the UK brought its own set of challenges. Despite a robust background in Nigeria, he had to rebuild his career from scratch in a new market.

“Starting over professionally in the UK was humbling,” he admitted. “But teaching children coding gave me a purpose beyond personal achievement. It reminded me why I entered this field—to impact lives positively, not just run a business.”

He encourages other Africans in the diaspora to leverage their skills and businesses developed back home while adapting to the realities of operating abroad.

“Business in the UK is structured and straightforward, though taxation is high,” he noted. “But ultimately, success is about choice, perseverance, and the value you create for others.”

In less than two years, Atekoja’s initiatives have already trained over 100 children, with plans to expand further and reach more young minds.

“As a 40-year-old, giving back isn’t optional, it’s essential,” he said. “Every child we train is an investment in the future, not just for them, but for society as a whole.”

Boardelesstek Limited, the company he leads, combines innovative, scalable, and technology-driven solutions with social impact programs. While the company provides business solutions that drive digital transformation and efficiency, training and capacity building remain at its core, demonstrating how tech companies can create tangible value for communities, not just shareholders.

“Value creation isn’t just about profits,” Atekoja explained. “It’s about impact. When you empower children with skills in AI, software, and technology, you’re shaping a generation that can innovate, lead, and change the world.”

As the UK faces growing digital inequality, initiatives led by diaspora professionals like Atekoja highlight the human side of technology, where digital skills become tools for empowerment, opportunity, and hope. His work serves as a blueprint for leveraging expertise, culture, and entrepreneurship to nurture the next generation of innovators.

His organization, Borderless Tek, has launched the Kids Coding Partnership — a grassroots tech education program designed to equip underprivileged schoolchildren in communities like Ikorodu and Yaba with foundational coding and software development skills, completely free of charge.

This is not just another CSR initiative. It’s a deliberate human-centered response to the growing digital divide that continues to marginalize low-income Nigerian children from the technology revolution sweeping the globe.

“We’ve been teaching Black kids in Europe how to code, but what about those back home?” says Wale Atekoja, better known as @AtexXeta on social media. “We’re not targeting the privileged. We’re starting with the forgotten — the children who have never touched a laptop.”

The first three-month cohort of the program is scheduled to kick off in September 2025, targeting public Junior and Senior Secondary School students across Lagos’ low-income areas. The curriculum will focus on practical, hands-on learning — from basic programming to animation, mobile app creation, and problem-solving.

But Wale is not walking this path alone.

The initiative is supported by strategic partners such as Yesding (education facilitation), Proline (internet infrastructure), and Akowe App, a credential verification startup that will ensure every certificate earned is both digitally secured and internationally recognized.

“This is how we break cycles of exclusion,” says Olamide Busari, a representative from Akowe. “These children will walk away not only with new skills but with verifiable certificates that open doors.”

This credibility ensures the effort extends beyond the classroom — helping students qualify for advanced training, internships, or even scholarships. It’s about real-world impact, not just inspiration.

The classrooms — to be set up in schools and libraries — are being fitted with digital infrastructure through partnerships with local governments and community stakeholders. Earlier pilot classes held this year already demonstrated tangible success: students who had never used a laptop built mobile apps and animations in just weeks.

Wale’s intervention is not just technical — it is deeply personal. Raised in Nigeria, he knows what it feels like to have the intellect but not the opportunity.

“I know what it’s like to be capable but invisible,” he says. “That’s why we’re building a new table — not waiting for a seat at someone else’s.”

He is calling on corporate entities, public servants, NGOs, and everyday Nigerians to join the effort — by donating laptops, sponsoring training centers, or mentoring the children.

“We’ve opened the doors,” Wale adds. “But we need others to help keep them open.”

In a country where millions of young people are at risk of being left behind in the tech-driven global economy, the Kids Coding Partnership is more than a program — it is a necessary human intervention. A digital lifeline. A second chance.

And for many Nigerian children, it may be their first real shot at creating — not just consuming — the future.