In furtherance of its commitment to bridging the gender skills gap in the tech industry, 1,500 girls and women have graduated from the second cohort of the Women In Tech Nigeria’s 2023 Makeathon.
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This achievement marks a significant step towards advancing gender diversity and inclusivity in the tech industry across Nigeria as the first cohort had produced 1,000 beneficiaries.
The Women in Tech Nigeria 2023 Makeathon, sponsored by the VFD Group, is an initiative aimed at empowering girls and women to pursue careers in technology-related fields. Over the course of the three-month intensive free, capacity-building, digital literacy exercise in Product Design, Product Management, Digital Marketing and Data Analytics, the participants were provided with hands-on training on the requisite skills and knowledge they need to launch successful careers in the tech industry.
Speaking at the event, which was held recently at The Nest in Yaba, Lagos State, Country Director, Women in Tech Nigeria, Solape Akinpelu, expressed her enthusiasm for the Makeathon’s achievements and the potential it holds for the future.
“The graduation of 1,500 girls and women from the Women in Tech Nigeria 2023 Makeathon is a significant milestone in our mission to bridge the gender gap in technology. The dedication and passion displayed by these graduates are truly inspiring. We believe that they are poised to make a substantial impact in the tech industry and contribute to Nigeria’s technological growth.
“These women have worked incredibly hard to learn new skills and knowledge, and we are confident that they will make significant contributions to the tech industry and to Nigeria as a whole. We are committed to continuing to empower women and girls through our programmes, and we hope that our graduates will inspire other women to pursue careers in tech,” she said.
In his remarks, Managing Director, VBank, Gbenga Omolokun, said: “The Makeathon is part of our goal to increase the participation of women in the tech industry. According to a report by the World Economic Forum, women account for only 28 per cent of the global workforce in tech. In Nigeria, the gender gap in the tech industry is even wider, with women accounting for only 22 per cent of the workforce.
“We are committed to sponsoring the Makeathon to close the gender gap in the tech industry by providing girls and women with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. This partnership reflects VFD Group’s dedication to fostering positive change and contributing to creating a more diverse and inclusive tech industry, which will benefit everyone.”
To train the beneficiaries on the skills, Women In Tech Nigeria partnered with The Nest Incubation Hub and Girl Code Academy.
One of the beneficiaries of the 2023 Makeathon, Dami Ajayi, who was trained in Product Management, said: “I am extremely happy to have benefited from this intensive three-month tech capacity building programme. I enjoyed the tremendous opportunity to learn new skills, gain experience and eventually graduate to embark on a successful career in the tech industry. I am grateful to everyone who played a significant role in making this possible.”
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