NGO trains 100 girls in digital technology, innovative learning in Lagos

Women Connect, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), says it has trained 100 girls on the use of digital technology to improve creative learning.

Oyinlola Sale, founder of the organisation, said the programme was organised in commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child.

Speaking on Tuesday in Lagos, Sale said the programme targeted young girls between the ages of 7-16.

She said the organisation established a girl child empowerment programme in collaboration with Devnaija Academy Limited to educate young females on the need to become independent leaders.

She said the training will empower them with tech skills, such as coding and robotics, which are needed to navigate the continuously evolving world.

She urged the government to protect girls by addressing issues of child marriage and improving school enrollment, particularly for adolescent females in rural areas.

Elizabeth Ogunbiyi, chief executive officer of Devnaija Academy Limited, said the government should implement policies to enable equal opportunities.

Ogunbiyi said it is important to “build and maintain schools, provide transportation, and remove barriers that hinder girls’ attendance and participation”.

“We believe that every girl deserves the opportunity to explore and excel in this technologically driven world,” she said.

Ogunbiyi said introducing technology as part of the educational system, promoting equal access to digital resources, and providing scholarships, grants, and financial incentives will encourage girls’ enrollment in schools.

“This helps to alleviate the financial burden on families and promotes higher education levels,” she said.

“Digital technology has revolutionised the way young people learn. Interactive apps, e-learning platforms, and educational games make learning engaging, interactive, and tailored to individual needs.”

She said technology has positive and negative impacts, adding that some of the challenges are “digital addiction and overuse, cyberbullying and online harassment, fake news which can misguide and misinform young individuals”.