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In the fast-paced world of technology, where change is constant and skill reigns supreme, it’s rare to find a story as compelling as that of Emmanuella Mayaki, a 15-year-old coding prodigy from Nigeria. Her journey is nothing short of extraordinary, filled with curiousity, courage, and an unyielding drive to reshape the tech landscape for young girls in Nigeria and beyond.
Emmanuella’s journey began in Edo State, Nigeria, where, at the age of eight, she took her first steps into the world of coding. While most children her age were focused on basic school subjects, Emmanuella was teaching herself HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. She found herself captivated by the unending possibilities coding offered, and it wasn’t long before she decided to dive deeper, learning everything from JQuery and WordPress to Java, and Python.
When her family moved to Lagos, she didn’t shy away from bigger challenges. Emmanuella enrolled in a specialized computer school for adults, standing out not only for her age but for her incredible proficiency. While surrounded by adults, she thrived in this unique environment, quickly outpacing her classmates and revealing an aptitude that many tech professionals work years to acquire. Her passion for coding only grew, and so did her ambition.
Here’s what’s even more amazing, at age 9, when her family relocated to England from Nigeria, Emmanuella stunned the UK’s schooling system with her computer proficiency. Her path took an even more surprising turn at age 11, when she was designated a student-teacher by the administrators of her school, the Southfields Primary School, Coventry, England, to tutor other students her age on advanced computer skills.
This happened after she volunteered to help teach coding. Her expertise and passion captured the attention of the school administration, who saw her as a valuable addition to the teaching team. Emmanuella wasn’t just attending school, she was imparting her skills to her peers, proving that age was no barrier to mastery or mentorship.
Who would have thought that a young black girl who just relocated from Nigeria would be found skilled enough to tutor others in their country. With Emmanuella Mayaki, that was made possible.
Interestingly, her vision extended beyond just learning and teaching coding; she dreamed of empowering other young girls in Nigeria with the same digital skills she had discovered. Determined to make a difference, she founded CodeKid Academy in December 2020. CodeKid is a tech-focused academy dedicated to equipping girls aged 6-15 with essential digital literacy skills. Under her guidance, the academy offers courses that cover foundational skills like Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as advanced coding, website development, and programming languages. Emmanuella’s goal is to bridge the digital literacy gap for Nigerian girls and give them the tools to step confidently into a tech-driven future.
What makes CodeKid Academy unique is its focus on empowering the girl child, who is often underrepresented in the fields of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Emmanuella understands that there are significant barriers preventing girls from entering tech, and her academy aims to break down these barriers. By focusing on early-age digital training, Emmanuella is planting seeds of opportunity for girls who might otherwise be excluded from the digital world. Her vision is clear: to equip and inspire girls to take an active role in technology, becoming creators rather than consumers in the digital space.
Her groundbreaking work hasn’t gone unnoticed. In May 2022, she was recognized as a STEM icon by STEM Kids New York City, an honour that solidified her position as a young leader in the tech world. And as if that wasn’t enough, at just 13 years old, Emmanuella Mayaki received another major achievement; acceptance to Mary Baldwin University in the United States to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. She started studying at the collegiate level and is expected to graduate from the university at the age of 16 as a Computer Scientist.
Emmanuella Mayaki’s story is a very inspiring one. She’s not only advancing her own knowledge and skills but is also actively working to create a more inclusive tech landscape for Nigerian girls.
Indeed! She isn’t just a gifted coder; she’s a force of nature, reshaping the tech world and inspiring a generation of young girls to see themselves as more than just spectators in a world of innovation.
Her journey is proof that age and background are no barriers to impact and innovation. With every class she teaches and every line of code she writes, Emmanuella is laying the foundation for a brighter, more digitally inclusive future. Her story reminds us that no dream is too big and no age is too young when the vision is clear.
Do you still think that age is a barrier to being successful? If you do, let Emmanuella’s story inspire you.
