NGO to empower 45 female graduates with digital skills in Kwara

Webfala Digital Skills for All Initiative (WDSFAI), a non-profit organisation, is set to train 45 unemployed female graduates in Kwara state in digital skills.

In a statement on Saturday by Hameed Muritala, the organisation’s director of communications and strategy, the NGO said it is partnering with Wipro Technologies Nigeria to empower the female graduates in furtherance of its commitment to bridging the gender gap in the technology space in Nigeria.

Tagged ‘Keeping Female in STEM 2024’, the programme is designed to provide the participants with a four-month intensive training in either software development (backend), cybersecurity or data science.

Speaking at the orientation programme for the participants in Ilorin, Kwara state capital, Nafisat Bakare, the executive director of WDSFAI, said 990 applications were received and only 300 applicants were shortlisted for interview and screening, while 45 applicants were selected to take part in the training.

She further disclosed that after the training, the participants would proceed on a three-month internship at various tech companies in the country.

Bakare said women in many parts of the world continue to face systemic barriers and discrimination in accessing education and pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

“This seven-month journey will not only enhance the participants’ employability skills but also pave the way for their personal and professional growth,” she said.

“There is an urgent need for initiatives like ours to promote gender equality and empower females in STEM.

“By providing unemployed female graduates with training in either cybersecurity, software development (backend), or data science, we are not only addressing the gender gap in STEM fields but also empowering women to take their rightful place as leaders and innovators in the technology sector.

“This programme is not just about teaching technical skills; it is about instilling confidence, fostering resilience, and nurturing talent. Together with our partners, we are not only changing individual lives but also transforming communities and societies.”

In his presentation as a guest lecturer at the event, Taofik Abdulkareem, the CEO of Plat Technologies Limite, lamented that women are largely underrepresented in STEM, while calling for more women participation in STEM activities.

“We can’t leave only men in the STEM fields because the inclusion of girls and women in STEM will bring about diversity in STEM activities. By bringing more women, we would not limit ourselves in achievable possibilities but unlock new avenues. We need more women in STEM so that they can be made visible for other women to emulate,” he remarked.

Earlier in his remark, Taiwo Abimbola, the director of Wipro Technologies Nigeria, congratulated the participants and enjoined them to seize the opportunity provided by the training programme to learn new digital skills to become employable in the digital industry.

“Remember that the skills you acquire here will not only open doors for you but also empower you to make a meaningful difference in the world,” he said.