Ugur, aged eleven, created his own online game as part of a coding course, writes Philbert Osei-Wusu

An eleven-year-old ‘code ninja’ from Enfield has become the first in the UK to attain a ‘black belt’ in coding from an international programming franchise – after creating his own online game.

Ugur Recber joined Code Ninjas Enfield in 2021 and has since completed nine courses, including JavaScript, Lua in Roblox, and C# in Unity and also created his own game, Escape the Nightmare, which is now downloadable for the public.

Code Ninjas is a children’s coding franchise with hundreds of locations across the US, Canada and the UK, where kids are able to learn about coding in a fun and safe environment. Ugur completed the nine-belt coding curriculum at Code Ninjas in just 18 months and his achievement has been described as “outstanding”.

Escape the Nightmare sees players surviving for as long as they can while using different weapons from a shop, all while trying to get a high score.

Ugur said: “You learn to code to make your own games, and when your game is perfect you get three stars, and when you are finished it gets harder every time and more challenging.”

Although Ugur said he found it challenging at the start, after beginning an at-home learning package, he found the confidence to take on the challenges.

Ugur added: “I am proud to be the first black belt in the UK.”

The curriculum at Code Ninjas, which opened its Enfield Town branch at London Road in 2020, is built around fun and is “self-paced not self-taught” with the kids getting help and encouragement from ‘code senseis’ and fellow ‘ninjas’ as they go from white to black belt during the programme.

Owen, the lead sensei at Code Ninjas Enfield, says: “I can’t praise Ugur enough for his determination and attitude towards learning at the high level of challenges he had to overcome. His achievement is nothing short of outstanding.

“Well done, Ugur!”

Justin Nihiser, Code Ninjas chief executive, added: “Earning your coding black belt at Code Ninjas takes dedication, perseverance and skill, all of which Ugur has demonstrated impeccably by becoming our first black belt ninja in the UK.”

For more information about Code Ninjas Enfield:
Visit codeninjas.co.uk/enfield-london-uk

Play the game created by Ugur, Escape the Nightmare:
Visit custream.com/blackbeltpage2

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