An 8-year-old Nigerian boy, Tyva Benibo, has made the country proud with his technology prowess as he won the ‘Outstanding Animation’ category at the International Kids Coding Competition (IKCC) in what is an outstanding accomplishment that puts Nigeria on the world map.
In an interview with Vanguard, Benibo shared his motivation for this remarkable achievement and imparts advice to young students about the importance of learning coding.
Tuyva said: “My name is Tuyva Benibo. I attend Holden Park School. I am 8 years old and currently in year 4. Representing Nigeria and winning at the International Kids Coding Competition feels fantastic. It’s my first time, and the feeling is amazing. Winning the ‘Outstanding Animation’ award involves knowing how to code, creating animations, and understanding which code blocks to use.”
Benibo also reveals the source of his inspiration for learning to code and offers guidance to other young learners.
He explained: “Every day, after I was dropped off at school, I went to Mr. Edward’s class, where he taught me and other participants how to code and achieve high scores on our projects. I’ve been learning how to code for a year now. The experience is incredible because it allows me to express my thoughts and imagination, creating remarkable projects that are worth watching and playing.”
“I would like to encourage other children to keep coding once they become familiar with coding blocks and creating fantastic projects,” he added.
Benibo’s teacher, Mr. Paul, expressed his pride in seeing Benibo represent the country and offered advice to young students.
Mr. Paul said: “My name is Edward Paul. I was overjoyed to see Tuyva win this prestigious title. Looking at the list of countries and participants, seeing Nigeria included was a proud moment for me as the teacher who guided Tuyva.”
He continued, “This achievement can inspire them to pursue various careers, and opportunities can be opened for them to work with tech companies. Tech companies are always on the lookout for skilled individuals to fill vacant positions. So, I believe many opportunities are now available to them. I look forward to collaborating with tech companies for international opportunities and inspiring students to explore various career paths.”
The Assistant Head of School at Holden Park School, where Benibo is a student, expressed her excitement following this achievement, highlighting the positive impact of the school’s coding program.
Assistant Head of School, Veronica Mordi, remarked: “I’m Veronica Mordi, the Assistant Head of School at Holden Park School. I was genuinely thrilled because our students have been actively engaged in coding lessons, including animations, which were not part of their regular curriculum. This competition provided a unique opportunity for them to explore coding and animation beyond the usual school setting.”
She added, “Winning this competition was a significant achievement for our school, and the entire school community is filled with joy and excitement. It reinforces the fact that children are well-prepared for the challenges of this new century, where technology and coding skills are highly valuable.”
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