As demand for digital skills explodes across Africa, a new initiative is stepping in to make sure Nigerian girls and young women aren’t left behind. Naija Girls in Tech (NGiT) has officially launched with an ambitious goal: to equip women with the skills, confidence, and career pathways needed to thrive in today’s technology-driven economy.
At a time when tech talent shortages are growing globally, NGiT is positioning itself as more than just another training program. Its focus is long-term impact — helping women not only learn tech skills, but also build sustainable careers and economic independence.
Why the gender gap in tech is still a problem
Across Nigeria and much of Africa, technology is reshaping how businesses operate, how governments function, and how people earn a living. Yet access to quality digital education remains uneven — especially for girls and young women.
Despite increasing interest in tech careers, many women still face barriers such as limited mentorship, lack of hands-on training, unclear employment pathways, and social expectations that discourage participation in STEM fields. NGiT was created to tackle these challenges head-on.
According to NGiT Founder and CEO Olufunmilayo Ogunwo-Adesanya, the initiative was born from a simple but powerful idea: when women are given relevant digital skills and real opportunities, the ripple effects extend far beyond individual careers.
“When women are equipped with relevant digital skills and opportunities, they can significantly contribute to national development, innovation, and economic growth,” she said.
More than training: building confidence and career readiness
What sets Naija Girls in Tech apart is its emphasis on the full journey — not just learning to code or earning certifications. The initiative combines digital, technology, and cybersecurity training with mentorship, career coaching, and real-world exposure.
The goal is to prepare participants for actual jobs, not just classrooms. NGiT plans to support internship placements, industry certifications, and employment opportunities, helping participants move from learning to earning.
Ogunwo-Adesanya describes the vision as creating a future where African women are not just users of technology, but creators and leaders within the digital ecosystem — shaping products, policies, and innovations at both local and global levels.
A bold Vision 2030 target
NGiT’s long-term ambition is hard to miss. Guided by its #Vision2030 roadmap, the initiative aims to train, mentor, and create career opportunities for at least 100,000 girls and young women in tech by 2030.
That scale matters. Nigeria’s youthful population and fast-growing digital economy mean that initiatives like this could play a critical role in closing skills gaps while boosting inclusion.
Importantly, NGiT is not limiting itself to one demographic. Its target audience includes girls and women aged 16 to 35, students and recent graduates, early-career professionals, women from underserved and low-income communities, career switchers moving into tech, and persons living with disabilities interested in digital careers.
Partnerships as the growth engine
Rather than working in isolation, Naija Girls in Tech is building a partnership-driven model. The initiative plans to collaborate with technology companies, training providers, industry professionals, educational institutions, development-focused organizations, and the media.
These partnerships are expected to support curriculum delivery, mentorship programs, internship placements, certifications, and employment pathways — turning training into tangible outcomes.
There is also a strong focus on public-sector collaboration. NGiT sees opportunities to work with the Nigerian government on capacity building, skills development, policy alignment, funding, infrastructure access, and job placement initiatives.
Moving beyond one-off interventions
One of the most notable aspects of NGiT’s approach is its focus on sustainability. In addition to training, the initiative integrates mentorship, school outreach campaigns, community building, career coaching, and job placement support.
This long-term structure is designed to ensure measurable impact and accountability — a departure from short-term programs that offer skills but little follow-through.
Ogunwo-Adesanya’s background in technology, cybersecurity, data protection, governance, risk, and digital transformation has shaped this model. Over the years, she has consistently championed initiatives that expand access to opportunity for women, young people, and underserved communities.
Why this matters now
As artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and digital services continue to reshape the global workforce, the cost of exclusion is rising. Countries that fail to include women in their tech ecosystems risk widening inequality — and missing out on innovation.
Naija Girls in Tech is betting that inclusion is not just a social good, but an economic strategy. If successful, it could help redefine what Nigeria’s digital future looks like — and who gets to build it.
The bigger question: can initiatives like NGiT scale fast enough to match Africa’s growing demand for tech talent, and will more organizations step in to support the mission?
