The Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC) has trained 16 girls aged between 11 and 17 in Kwara State in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to help bridge the digital gender gap.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of the one-week camping exercise in Ilorin, the Programme Officer and State Coordinator of the organisation, Mrs Kawthar Ibiyeye, said the programme was designed to train the girls to pursue careers in STEM.
She said the programme, tagged “W.TEC She Creates Camp 2026”, was, among other things, designed to build the girls’ intelligence, confidence and technology skills, while encouraging them to think not just as girls but as leaders in the creative space.
“The reason why we are focusing our efforts on girls is the fact that when it comes to the future of technology, we noticed that girls tend to shy away a bit compared to boys, especially the generation that we’re training.
“So, our effort is to bridge that gap because it’s a global thing. We have more men in the field of technology, building things and doing so much.
“Now W.TEC is trying to bridge that tech gap and see that through learning in camps like this, we can get our girls more interested in taking up careers in the field of STEM,” she said.
Mrs Ibiyeye, however, urged the girls to build on what they had learnt to develop themselves further and put the lessons learnt to use.
W.TEC Executive Director, Mrs Oreoluwa Lesi, said the programme was basically designed to teach secondary school girls how they could take over the world with technology, adding that the journey starts now.
The Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr Lawal Olohungbebe, said the initiative complemented the Kwara Government’s vision of building a knowledge-driven economy powered by innovation and human capital development.
Lawal, represented by the Ministry’s Director of Human Capital Development, Mrs Victoria Ajide, said the world was changing rapidly, and technology was shaping every sector of the economy.
“Kwara is determined to ensure that our children, especially our girls, are not merely consumers of technology, but creators of technology, innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders who will shape the future,” he said.
The Guest Speaker, Mrs Hassanat Bello, urged the participants to embrace technology responsibly, noting that although it was a powerful tool, its value depended on how it was used.
“So, use digital platforms to learn, create, collaborate and contribute positively to society, and try to develop leadership skills, cultivate resilience and not allow your background or gender to determine your future,” she said.
One of the participants, Fatimah Alege, who won the Best Camper and Most Curious awards, said the camp had exposed her to things she never imagined she could learn.
Another participant, Fareeha Ibrahim, said the camping programme had helped her decide on a career path.
She said she had learnt that they could not continue to be merely consumers of technology but could also create technology.
A parent, Mrs Shukura Muhammed, said that following the experience her daughter gained at the 2025 camping programme, she was currently representing Nigeria in an AI and coding programme on the global stage.
“So, I am more than convinced to bring her younger sister this year because I can see the impact,” she said.
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