YABATECH, UNICEF partner to boost girl-child education

Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) has partnered with United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to unveil the Girls’ Education and Skills Partnership (GESP) programme aimed at equipping about 5,250 girls and young women with Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills needed to thrive in the world of work.

The programme will cover skills such as mobile phone repair and maintenance, computer hardware repair, website and mobile app development. The Rector of the college, Dr. Abdul Ibraheem, in his address at the programme launch, emphasised the need to equip adolescent girls with crucial life skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

According to the rector, the key elements of the programme include developing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to provide market-relevant skills through gender-sensitive teaching methods, training 1,750 primary beneficiaries between ages 13 and 24 in four ICT areas, and supporting women in ICT businesses for better livelihood security.

Despite advancements, Ibraheem noted that barriers such as socio-economic issues, cultural norms, and limited resources hinder girls’ education. He urged educators, industry leaders, and community members to join the college in the initiative to help the girl-child acquire the needed skills to enhance their potentials in the labour market.

The Project Coordinator, Dr. Funmilayo Doherty, noted that many students, particularly girls, lack practical skills needed for employment, contributing to high unemployment and economic stagnation.

She described the initiative as a significant step toward gender equality and overcoming barriers to women’s participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields.

Already, Doherty said over 700 girls have registered for the free training starting in October.
She commended partners like UNICEF and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for their crucial support in launching the programme.

UNICEF’s Education Specialist, Babagana Aminu, said over 40,000 women, including the physically challenged, are expected to benefit to from the programme. He praised the FCDO for its funding and urged YABATECH to ensure that more women participated in the training.

Wife of Lagos State Governor, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, emphasised that the skills offered by GESP would help young women compete in the global digital economy. Sanwo Olu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary from Education District II, Mrs Anike Adekanye enjoined participants to fully utilise the programme for personal and professional growth.

On her part, the Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Bolaji Dada, said with the launch of GESP, YABATECH and its partners are paving the way for innovation, inclusion, and inspiration.

She said: “The initiative underscores the state unwavering commitment to empowering young women through education and skill acquisition, which are pillars for building the future.”