Prof. Azikiwe Peter Onwualu, FAS, President, AUST on red cap (M) in a group photograph with facilitators, parents and students shortly after the graduation ceremony of the Coding, Basic Computer Awareness and Robotics Training organised by CPD, AUST.

ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Continuing Professional Development (CPD) coding program held its graduation ceremony on August 31, 2026, celebrating the innovative achievements of teenage participants who developed a range of software applications while addressing practical challenges.

What began as a small initiative with five students has evolved into a significant platform that cultivates independent thinking, creativity, and technical proficiency, while positioning coding as an essential tool for tackling Africa’s socio-economic challenges.

Delivering a keynote address, Prof. Azikiwe Peter Onwualu, FAS, President of the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), lauded the graduates as emerging innovators and programmers.

He stressed that, with continued mentorship and collaboration, the graduates are well-equipped in the development of solutions capable of addressing pressing continental challenges.

The students presented a diverse array of applications using Python, Gradio, Java, and JavaScript. Notable projects included a study-abroad platform for evaluating university admissions criteria, a household expense tracker with budgeting and overspend prevention features, a weather-responsive clothing recommendation system, and an energy conservation tool, among others.

In addition to their technical expertise, the graduates demonstrated strong professional communication skills, delivering PowerPoint presentations that clearly articulated the functionality and purpose of their applications to both the audience and a panel of judges.

In his closing remarks, Dr. Vitalis Anye, Dean of the School of Engineering at AUST, commended the facilitators for their instructional excellence and expressed appreciation to the parents for their steadfast support in fostering the holistic development of the participants.