The W.TEC Academy seeks to inspire girls to pursue engineering, technology and computer science careers paths by nurturing their interest in STEM, connecting STEM to real life situations, equipping them with the skills to translate STEM concepts into technology and engineering-based products and projects.
The W.TEC Academy sessions, have helped the girls to deepen their skills through hands-on Science and Technology projects, programming classes, career talks and engagement with STEM professionals. Students were introduced to practical and engaging curriculum in Animation Programming with Scratch and Video Editing. All participants and facilitators of the project also had the opportunity to earn W.TEC certificates and digital open badges alignment with the European Union Digital Competence Framework for Citizens and certificates.
The W.TEC Academy Lagos State Programme is sponsored by LASRIC and ran in 9 schools under Lagos State Ministry of Education District IV in 2021. The target number for the project is 300 girls and we have reached 232 girls so far; we look forward to exceeding our target in 2022 as we take in more students towards to close of the projects cycle.
LASRIC– is the Lagos State Science Research & Innovation Council, whose mission is to translate wealth, growth and tackling societal challenges in Lagos State through the application of Science & Technology in a knowledge driven world.
Report prepared by
Folashade Braimoh
Programme Manager W.TEC
MAKEHERSPACE BY W.TEC EMPOWERS 887 LADIES IN 2021
The MakeHer space project, initially planned to run as a face to face programme. The outbreak of the pandemic had us reconfiguring the programmes pilot phase into an online training format from May – November 2020. The pilot phase was a success with 88 girls given intensive training on Website Design, 3D Modelling, Video Marketing and Market Research and Analysis via 6 cohorts.
Following the successful implementation of the pilot phase, WTEC launched in-person training for participants in Nasarawa, Bauchi and Abuja after the passing of the 2nd wave of the pandemic in Nigeria. During these classes a total of 887 girls and women were trained Electronics and Renewable Energy paneled projects at 12 centers across the 3 states of the nation we later tagged Zone 2. This successful phase was conducted January – December in 2021.
The girls had an impact filled learning experience in 2021 as they learnt from our trained facilitators and worked on their projects. Subsequently, participants of past cohorts were given access to return to our training centers to perfect their skills by doing my extensive work on self-directed community solutions projects through the Hybrid Spaces. All participants and facilitators of the projects also had the opportunity to earn W.TEC certificates and digital open badges alignment with the European Union Digital Competence Framework for Citizens and certificates.
W.TEC is excited about the project as we plan for its implementation in 2022 to continue in Zone 2 (North), extend online and expand to more communities and centres in Lagos state and Kwara state.
The MakeHer space project is a Hands-on Technology initiative that teaches young women to create technology and engineering-based solutions that solve problems in their communities, provide information about career options and exposes them to women working successfully in STEAM.
The MakeHER Space Programme by W.TEC in Nigeria is done with support from Google.
Report prepared by
Folashade Braimoh
Programme Manager W.TEC