Press Release
Lagos, Nigeria – August 17th 2024
The Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC) successfully hosted the 17th edition of its She Creates Camp, a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics) program, from August 4th to 17th in Lagos, Nigeria. This two-week residential camp for girls culminated in a remarkable graduation ceremony on Saturday, August 17th, 2024. The camp brought together 19 enthusiastic participants from across Lagos State, offering them a unique, once-in-a-lifetime fun-learning experience.
The She Creates Camp is a residential science & technology education and mentoring programme designed to teach girls in secondary schools (ages 13 – 17) to learn to create useful solutions and technologies for everyday living through the application of engineering and scientific concepts, programming, mobile application development, and digital content development.
- For the two-week duration of the residential camp, 19 girls participated in technology workshops on Artificial Intelligence, Electronics, Software Innovation, Hands-on Projects, Team building, Career-talk sessions, Excursions, Entrepreneurial Skills, introduction to Marine Engineering, Recycling workshop & Upcycling, Introduction to Bio-gas, Waste management, Solar power technology and electronics, Alternative Power supply, Creative Design using Ai, Introduction to internet of things, Introduction to environmental sustainability, Safer internet techniques for girls and cyber security and numerous co-curricular activities (including Financial Literacy, Arts & Crafts, Self-Defense, Public Speaking, Gender & Leadership, Emotional Intelligence).
The girls also participated in career talk sessions, team-building exercises, and excursions to both Wecyclers and Sonnex Packaging Nigeria Ltd both in Lagos. The career sessions included panels on leading Women in innovative ICT and business and Alumnae of She Creates Camp.
The long-term goal of the camp is to increase the numbers of Nigerian women and girls working in Science, Technology, Engineering, Design, and Maths-related fields, as well as increase the numbers of girls and women using and creating technology for learning, professional, and leadership activities.
The sponsors of this year’s camp are Laureates College, MainOne, QVT Media, Leadway Assurance, LTT Coastal & Marine Services, and numerous individual donors.
Our camp supporters were African Cleanup Initiative, Mohinani, Earlybean, Edusko, Kuchenza, Techsocietal, whileour media supporters for publicity, were: Bella Naija, NAN, Bond FM and The Nation Newspapers, Thisday Newspapers, TVC, Channels TV and Arise TV.
Laureates College supported the camp by providing the venue for the camp.
The camp participants for their excursion were privileged to visit Wecyclers Collection and Recycling centre and Sonnex Packaging Nigeria Ltd. At both stops, the girls learnt and had a first-hand experience about the importance of having more contributions and participation in the Earth tech space and were shown the finest organization of a factory and its best setup fit for anyone to work there safely and effectively.
Distinguished speakers and facilitators at the She Creates Camp include:
Tech Sessions
- Marine Engineering/Nautical Science by Captain Ebinepre Robinson Canus and Engr. Mariam Chuks,
- Bio-Gas Session by Moses Oghene,
- Digital Safety Session by Mrs. Temitope Ogundipe,
- Environmental Sustainability Session by Shedrack Bright,
- Panel Session on “Internet for Social Good” by Kossy Okonkwo , Ifeanyi Akaleme _ and Amb. Genevieve Tambari Fadeh,
Gender Leadership Sessions
- Gender and Leadership Session by Bose Agbonmerele Ironsi, Founder and Executive Director of Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP),
- Gender Advocacy Session by Ayomide Okeleye, Ayomide Omoniyi & Ayomide Durodola,
Extra Curricular Programmes
- Kuchenza Games Session by Vincent Andrew
- Toluwalase Abiona, Dance and Exercise session by Mr Godwin,
Life Skills Sessions
- Emotional Intelligence Session by Olaoluwa Oluitan,
- Self-defense session by Mr. Ike,
- Financial Literacy by Mr. Chapele Oghenetega, Manager at Earlybean,
- Career Talk Sessions by Ify Brenda Ihionu,
- Public Speaking Session by Blessed Hamed-Musa and Efunuga Yemisi both of W.TEC
- Team Building Session by Patience Aderogba,
- Sex Education Session by Monsurat Oshinfisan,
- Etiquette Session by Keji Olutunji Oladimeji,
Excursions:
- Wecyclers Lagos: Conducted by Rafiat Kielomo – Head of operations
- Sonnex Packaging Nig Ltd: Conducted by Joseph Etem – Quality Assurance Officer
In addition, several She Creates Camp alumnae organised and facilitated sessions. These included a panelist session featuring: Zinna Duru, Oluwanifesimi Oso of W.TEC, Semilore and Chizzy Ogbuja.
On successful completion of the camp, the girls were invited and inducted to join W.TEC’s Alumnae Network, where they will be kept up to date with future W.TEC and other workshops to build-up their technical skills and network with other camp alumnae from 2008 to present.
PRIZES
Prizes were given out to distinguished camp participants at the camp’s graduation ceremony held on Saturday, August 17th, 2024. Prizes were given to participants for both group efforts and individual projects, in categories representing, each technical session:
- Creative Designs
- Air Quality Projects
- Smart City Project
- Biogas Project
In addition, character awards were given to participants, who distinguished themselves in their interpersonal skills with fellow participants, in the following categories: Miss Purposeful, Miss Capable, Miss Blossom, Miss Humor, Miss Congeniality, Miss Courage, Miss Leader and Miss Prim & Proper.
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Overall Winner’s Prize – Miss W.TEC: Best Overall Camper (Academics + Team Work + Behaviour)
The Overall Winner’s Prize,went to Miss Favour ETEM, for her steadfastness throughout the camp.
The Miss W.TEC 2024 prize plus runners up, comes with a high-profile technological mentorship with W.TEC
Camp Photo Album
You can have a good look at the camp in pictures from our online photo album:
Donors to She Creates:
Winifred Ereyi
Anonymous x 5
Morenie Dosu
Dr Olatokubo Somolu
Tarere Eyimina
Oreoluwa Lesi
Lanre Shasore
Jumoke Ali Afoke
Chidiogor Victor-Willie
This camp press release was prepared by:
Adeyemi Odutola
External Relations Lead at W.TEC
info@wteconline.org and yemi@wteconline.org