To commemorate the 2025 International Girls in ICT Day, the Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC) in partnership with Oracle Academy hosted an engaging and impactful event for 200 secondary schoolgirls from 10 select-participating secondary schools in Mainland-Lagos. Held as part of the W.TEC Academy programme, the celebration spotlighted the transformative power of technology in girls’ lives, inspired a new generation of innovators, and equipped them with critical digital skills for the future.
The W.TEC Academy is an afterschool technology club, which presents technology in an engaging way, aiming to attract more girls to pursue science and technology careers. The programme is robustly implemented in three states across Nigeria—Lagos, Kwara, and Ondo—all in public schools. In Lagos, it runs in schools on the Mainland, in Ondo at the state capital, and in Kwara across Offa and Ilorin.
The clubs target girls aged 10 to 17 years who attend public schools in Nigeria. The students undergo a practical and engaging curriculum, which includes programming with Alice and Greenfoot, Mobile Application Development, Computer Architecture, Networking, and Robotics.
The event, which featured career talks, mentoring, and project showcases, was graced by esteemed speakers and guests from the education and technology sectors.
In her welcome address, Olubunmi Shonde a member of W.TEC’s Advisory Board, reminded the girls of the critical need for increased female participation in technology. She emphasized that to ensure technology is truly inclusive and serves the interest of all, more girls and women must contribute to its development and governance.
Delivering the keynote address, Bekere Amassoma, Programme Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa at Oracle Academy, stressed the cost of not having enough women in tech. She highlighted the enormous opportunities available in the technology sector and underscored the urgency of closing the gender gap by encouraging more girls to pursue tech careers. “We need your voices, your creativity, and your ideas to shape a better digital future,” she affirmed.
A goodwill message from the Lagos State Ministry of Basic Education, District IV, was delivered by Mrs. Rose Nwajie, the District Counselor. She congratulated the participating students on their dedication and new skills, encouraging them to challenge the world with their talents. She also commended W.TEC for its impactful work and reassured the ministry’s support for its initiatives.
A session led by Engr. Tinuade Oguntuyi, a member of W.TEC’s Advisory Board, focused on the role of Artificial Intelligence in education. She advised the girls to harness AI positively, be mindful of its potential ills, and make focused efforts to excel in its use for learning and innovation.
The day featured breakout mentoring sessions, where girls interacted directly with female technology professionals, gaining firsthand insight into tech careers. This was followed by the presentation of tech projects by representatives from all 10 participating schools. These projects, which included websites and mobile apps developed during their HTML classes, reflected the practical skills the girls had acquired.
Lagos Anglican Girls’ Grammar School emerged the best in the presentations and was awarded prizes for their outstanding performance.
Some participants shared their excitement about the programme:
- Balikis from Aje Comprehensive High School expressed gratitude to W.TEC for introducing her to opportunities in gaming and animation.
- Jessica from Methodist Girls High School said the programme helped her realize that programming and computer engineering aren’t just for boys – “girls can do lots too,” she said proudly.
- Anene from Surulere Girls Senior School shared her excitement at learning how to build websites, adding that she would definitely consider it as a future career path.
MEDIA GALLERY
Event: Photo Album
The event was a powerful reminder that with the right support, mentorship, and education, girls can lead and thrive in the tech world. W.TEC remains committed to empowering young women to explore technology and build a more inclusive and innovative future.