The Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC), in partnership with Oracle Academy, has empowered 150 secondary school girls across Lagos, Kwara, and Abuja with essential technology, innovation, and problem-solving skills aimed at tackling real-world challenges in education, healthcare, climate change, and security. The initiative, themed “She Solves for Change,” formed part of activities to mark this year’s International Day of the Girl-Child and offered participants hands-on experience in high-demand digital skills including website design, mobile app development, robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI).
Over multiple days, the girls engaged in practical exercises that allowed them to design solutions to societal issues, develop apps for real-life applications, and explore emerging technologies, equipping them with both technical competence and entrepreneurial mindset. “It’s inspiring to see these young girls not just learning technology, but using it to create solutions that could impact communities and even the country,” said Ms. Arafat Ogunfemi, software engineer and keynote speaker. She encouraged the participants to cultivate positive relationships, think critically, and pursue excellence as they develop their professional skills.
Mr. Tobi Durojaye, Advisory Board member of W.TEC, commended the programme’s organisers and called on government and private sector stakeholders to support similar initiatives that focus on empowering the girl child. “What I saw the girls display today was captivating. These young women are the next generation of innovators, creators, and problem solvers,” he said.
By equipping young girls with digital, technical, and entrepreneurial skills, W.TEC and Oracle Academy are helping to build a pipeline of female talent capable of driving Nigeria’s innovation economy.
The programme also aims to encourage participants to explore careers in STEM and technology-driven entrepreneurship, which remain underrepresented by women in Nigeria. Through initiatives like this, the organisations are not only empowering individual girls but also strengthening the wider MSME ecosystem, creating opportunities for future women-led startups and community-driven solutions.
