Joy of Python: Empowering Communities Through Jesuit Global Collaboration
This past August, the Jesuit commitment to the Universal Apostolic Preferences came to life through an inspiring global initiative connecting two continents. The Xavier Institute of Engineering (XIE) in Mumbai, India, and the Xavier Jesuit Institute (XJI) in Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria, joined forces once again to deliver Joy of Python—a program designed to expand educational opportunity and help close the digital divide in the Nigerian cities of Benin City and Lagos.
Held from August 4 to 29, 2025, this marks the second successful collaboration between the two institutions—proof of what can happen when Jesuit universities unite around mission and innovation.
Expert instructors Mr. Suhas Lawand and Mr. Mishil Patel from XIE led the training, reaching participants through a hybrid model. In Benin City, sessions took place at St. Joseph Catholic Church, while in Lagos the program was hosted at St. Francis Catholic Secondary School, with an online component expanding participation even further.
Nearly 90 learners successfully completed the course—and their backgrounds reflect the broad reach of Jesuit education: Jesuit priests, novices, religious sisters, secondary school teachers, university students, and business professionals all came together to learn, grow, and dream bigger.
The curriculum was specially crafted for beginners, offering an engaging introduction to programming fundamentals, modular development, GUI design using Tkinter, and database integration with SQLite3. The final projects brought these skills to life—most notably a Parish Management System designed to support community record-keeping, showcasing how technology can address real local needs.
A highlight of this year’s program was the involvement of alumni from the previous edition (held November 2024), who served as teaching assistants in Lagos. This “train-the-trainer” model ensures knowledge continues to expand from within the community long after the course ends.
Ultimately, Joy of Python is more than a training program—it’s a pathway to greater opportunity. It equips participants with practical skills that increase employability and empowers educators and professionals with the tools needed in today’s digital world.
XIE and XJI remain committed to strengthening this global partnership and expanding access to transformative education. Because when Jesuit institutions collaborate in service of hope and justice—innovation thrives, communities grow, and new futures become possible.
Final note of thanks: This initiative was made possible thanks the leadership teams who brought this vision to life: Fr. Dr. John Rose, SJ (Director of XIE), Dr. Lata Ragha (Principal of XIE), and XJI leaders Fr. Dr. Ugo Nweke, SJ, and Fr. Dr. Amaechi Ugwu, SJ.
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