TheCable

TechHer, a civil society organisation (CSO), in partnership with Plan International Nigeria, has launched a six-month technology skills mentorship programme for secondary school students in the federal capital territory (FCT).

According to a statement on Tuesday, Kelechi Ofim, TechHer communications officer, said the programme, which flagged off in July, is aimed at encouraging the advancement of girls and women in science, technology, and engineering (STEM).

He said the programme, which is a continuation of TechHer’s digital literacy efforts for secondary schools in Nigeria, “will foster interest and lay a foundation for girls to thrive in STEM, particularly to prepare them for potential opportunities in tech at an early stage”.

Students selected to participate in the mentorship programme are winners of a quiz competition organised by TechHer and Plan International to commemorate the 2022 International Day of Girls in ICT.

Chioma Agwuegbo, executive director of TechHer, said the partnership is a “mutual vision” to equip women and girls with access to skills and opportunities for personal development and economic growth.

“Tech continues to revolutionise human activities, and the COVID-19 pandemic provided a stark reminder that digital literacy, penetration and adoption are critical for societies to advance. Unfortunately, inequalities remain, and women and girls have yet to benefit from or equitably integrate into the opportunities tech provides,” she said.

“Amongst Nigeria’s 18.5 million out-of-school children — the highest in the world — 60% are girls. These are problematic figures, especially as the number has risen exponentially instead of decreasing.

“The gap in this area continues to widen, and we must deliberately close it by supporting more girls and women to grow their ICT skills and be prepared for the job market.

“This partnership with Plan International Nigeria presents an excellent opportunity to remedy the educational gap amongst Nigeria’s teeming youth population, especially amongst women and girls whom we must equip with digital skills to thrive with their global counterparts.

“We’re grateful for Plan International, with whom we share a long history of providing pathways for more young Nigerians to access tech skills, compete globally and contribute to national development.”

Charles Usie, country director of Plan International Nigeria, said adolescent girls are “largely unsupported” in technology, hence the need for the programme.

“We are pleased to partner with TechHer on the Digistar Tech Mentorship Programme for adolescent girls in Abuja. Through our innovative and gender programming, we remain committed to supporting 10 million girls in Nigeria to learn, lead, decide and thrive,” he said.

“Despite advances in the world today to ensure gender parity, women, especially adolescent girls, remain largely unsupported and their unique needs un-catered for, especially in technology. Women are not typical features in the world of tech.

“We at Plan International want a change. We believe governments at all levels, stakeholders and development partners can make this happen if it is prioritised through support to girls from their early years. A balanced world is a fair world. Let’s support women in ICT.”