10 places you can learn how to code in Nigeria [2023 Updated]

Today’s world is growing more and more tech-driven. Coding stands tall as an essential skill for anyone trying to thrive in today’s digital world. It is gradually becoming a must-know for professionals not just in technology industry, but other industries as well.    

Beset by various infrastructural and systemic challenges, coding offers African developers a way to impact society, and build wealth. The rapid growth of the internet economy in Africa is set to add $180 billion or 5.2% of aggregate GDP by 2025, says a report from the World Bank’s IFC and Google.

Learning to code, however, is not a walk in the park. Free online and MOOC courses might seem like an easy way to learn, but they usually end up been done halfway or inadequate to take a beginner to a world class software developer.

Conversely, training institutes offer learners two things: a community of likeminds where they can draw inspiration and get feedback, and also a structured learning pathway. The need to have more software developers have seen the growth of coding training institutes in Nigeria over the years.

Here’s a list of 10 places you can learn to code in Nigeria in 2023. They are Moat Academy, Decagon, Univelcity, Anchorsoft Academy, Utiva, Altschool, Devcareer, HiiT plc, New Horizon and Audax code school.

Moat Academy

Although he graduated from Tasued as an Accounting student, Adeitan Abimbola Moses has always had a knack for using code to solve problems.  Upon graduation, he started his Web development journey at W3schools.

To become better at coding, he enrolled in Moat academy and graduated as one of the top students in his cohort. He developed a web application called Trashit to manage the collection and disposal of recyclable waste with financial rewards to the users.

Moat Academy offers 11-week full-time, and 16-week part-time software engineering courses in Lagos, Nigeria. The curriculum for both programs covers HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, MySQL, PHP or Python, and version control.

Students will learn how to build websites and web applications, how to authenticate users, manage sessions, manage emails, manipulate files, validate forms, develop APIs, connect to web services and other advanced topics in PHP or Python.

Decagon

While Mary Etokwudo was waiting for a job, she got interested in coding. She began learning from YouTube videos and other beginner’s videos here and there. But she couldn’t track her progress.

Mary knew she needed a place where she could learn in a structured way. She found out about Decagon and applied. “Decagon has given me three major things,” Mary said. “Leadership skills, communication skills and a large community of developers.

Decagon delivers an intensive 6-month program where software developers learn both full-stack software development and additional soft skills in an immersive environment. The curriculum includes learning programming languages such as Java, Node, .NET, Python, Android and iOS.

Through an agile delivery methodology, mentor matching and leadership modules, engineers are equipped with techniques and a leadership mindset that enables them to work competitively in any team globally.

Univelcity

Univelcity is a distinguished tech academy. Founded in 2016 by Joseph Agunbiade, the co-founder of BudgIT—an organization utilizing technology for citizen engagement. Formerly known as Switch Code Academy, Univelcity offers accelerated and immersive courses, both onsite and online. Onsite training courses include: Fullstack Development, Product Design (UI/UX), Frontend (CSS, HTML & JavaScript), Backend with Python Django, Data Science, Ethical Hacking and Machine Learning.

Conveniently located at 42, Montgomery Road, Yaba Lagos, Univelcity's onsite classes provide a hands-on learning experience. Professionals can also benefit from their flexible online programs. Classes are held on weekends and courses on offer include: Data Analysis, Product Management, and more. Univelcity's training approach provides practical insights across the various tracks, ensuring learners are job ready when they conclude their programs. Their prices are affordable and they also have installment payment options make their programs accessible to all.

Anchorsoft Academy

Anchorsoft Academy is a software engineering training center. As one of the top coding schools in Lagos, Nigeria, they offer courses in web, mobile, and restful API software developments.

Apart from software development courses, they also offer complimentary courses like UI/UX Design, Database Development and Administration, QA Testing & DevOps and Cloud (IaaS & PaaS).

The training program’s schedule is segmented to three, which are regular, weekends and on-demand training. The regular training targets secondary school leavers,  undergraduates and graduates.

Utiva

Utiva is a technology company that makes it easy for Africans to access technology skills through a collaborative and remote learning model. The platform makes talent and skills visible to employers.

Asides its programming school, Utiva has a Data school, Design school, Product school, Cloud computing school, Blockchain Dev. School and Marketing schools. The programming training program focuses on fundamentals of HTML, CSS, JavaScript and React.

AltSchool

Whether you are looking to continue your education, transition into a career in tech or simply boost your career path, Altschool offers certifications across three tracks in Software Programming - Frontend Engineering, Backend Engineering and Cloud Engineering.

Tuition at AltSchool costs $30 per month, an equivalent of a dollar a day, making it a learning path that is much more affordable. The school has students in over eight countries across Africa. For admission, students are required to pass an entrance assessment test and courses last for up to a year, including an internship.

DevCareer

DevCareer is a nonprofit created to help up-and-coming African developers. Beyond teaching African talents' software development, the academy gives the selected candidates high-performance laptops, a coworking space, free online courses, and continued mentorship for a 3-month period.

In a previous feature, we spoke with Fiyinfoluwa Akinsiku, a Microbiology graduate turned software developer. Picking up interest in software development after graduation, she tried learning from free online courses. Fiyinfoluwa discovered DevCareer through a tweet a friend shared with her, and her journey to a promising tech career began.

HiiT Plc

As one of the oldest programming institutes in the country, HiiT has been providing training, consultancy and development solutions for more than two decades. It’s software engineering program include courses in Python, Java and Microsoft.

Classes are conducted on-site at Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) accredited IT Training Centres located in Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, Kano and other cities nationwide.

New Horizons

New Horizons Nigeria is an ICT training and exam testing institute with over 15 years in Nigeria. The training institute train you to learn programming languages such as HTML5, CSS, Javascript, Microsoft Tech (C#), python programming, Java technology, etc.

Classes are organised online and on-site for individuals, schools and corporate organisations. New Horizons has training centres in Lagos (Ikeja, Surulere, Festac, Lekki), Ibadan, Abeokuta, Ado-Ekiti, Ogbomosho, Abuja, Port Harcourt and (recently opened) Akure.

Audax Code School

Audax Code School was created to improve digital literacy through coding in a fun and collaborative environment to primary and secondary school students in Nigeria. It aims to position kids for a career in tech by taking them short courses in Python, Web application with Python, Javascript, CSS, HTML and basics of programming.

The program duration range from one month to 2 months. Launched in 2013, Audax Code School won Google Arise Award in 2014 for teaching less privileged children STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education.

Originally published in 2019, this post has been updated by Stephen Oluwadara.

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