The KSH Foundation has expanded its flagship Every Girl Fellowship to deepen access to digital technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and entrepreneurship for young women, as part of efforts to tackle the gender gap in Nigeria’s technology ecosystem.

The foundation, established in 2022 by Khalil Suleiman Halilu, said the initiative is designed to empower underserved girls with practical digital skills, mentorship, innovation training and business support that will enable them compete in the rapidly evolving technology sector.

 

Speaking at the unveiling of the Every Girl 3.0 Fellowship in Abuja, Halilu said the programme has grown from a vision of creating opportunities for girls into a national platform reaching participants from 15 states.

 

He disclosed that more than 400 girls applied for the current edition, describing the figure as evidence of the growing interest among young women seeking opportunities in technology and innovation.

 

According to him, the fellowship is moving beyond basic digital literacy to expose participants to emerging fields such as artificial intelligence and women’s health technology (FemTech).

 

“Whether we like it or not, artificial intelligence is shaping the future, and we do not want our girls to simply consume technology. We want them to become creators and innovators who shape the future,” he said.

 

Halilu noted that the foundation introduced FemTech into the curriculum because women should be actively involved in designing technological solutions that address issues affecting them.

 

“If half of the world’s population experiences these challenges, then women should also make up a significant number of those building the solutions,” he stated.

 

He said the programme provides beneficiaries with mentorship opportunities, exposure to key institutions, digital equipment, including laptops, and seed support to help them pursue careers and businesses in technology.

 

“We want to create an ecosystem where girls have access to opportunities they ordinarily would not have. They deserve the confidence, knowledge and tools to succeed,” Halilu added.

 

The founder urged beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity and become advocates for girls’ empowerment within their respective communities.

 

Project Coordinator of the Every Girl programme, Farida Yahya, said this year’s fellowship focused on expanding inclusion across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones while maintaining a merit-based selection process.

 

She explained that applicants participated in virtual learning sessions before undergoing assessments and submitting videos showcasing their ideas, after which the highest-performing candidates were selected.

 

“Our objective is to ensure that girls from different parts of the country have equal opportunities while maintaining excellence. We selected participants based on merit, innovation and their ability to communicate their ideas,” Yahya said.

 

She added that the programme seeks to build a network of confident young women capable of using technology to solve problems within their communities.

 

Director of Operations and Rescue at the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), Dr. Alero Ajekuta, described the fellowship as a timely intervention that encourages girls to embrace innovation and leadership.

 

She said empowering women with digital and entrepreneurial skills would enable them to become employers of labour and contribute meaningfully to national development.

 

“The narrative has changed. Women’s education no longer ends in the kitchen; it extends to the boardroom. Programmes like this help young women discover their potential and become agents of change,” she said.

 

Some of the beneficiaries also shared how the fellowship had strengthened their confidence and expanded their knowledge.

 

One of the fellows, Jonas Chinewa Princess Anne, said she acquired skills in digital content creation, entrepreneurship and no-code application development.

 

She said the experience had inspired her to return to her community and use technology to create solutions while mentoring other young girls.

 

Another participant, Hafsa Ibrahim-Berndi, a medical student, said the programme exposed her to opportunities at the intersection of technology and healthcare.

 

She pledged to apply the knowledge gained to develop innovative solutions that would benefit her community.

 

The Every Girl Fellowship is one of the KSH Foundation’s flagship initiatives aimed at equipping young women across Nigeria with the skills, mentorship and resources needed to thrive in technology, entrepreneurship and leadership.