StartZone Empowers Female Students on Technology

Over 60 students from selected senior secondary schools in Lagos State recently converged on the premises of Startzone, Gbagada for the ‘Girl Meets Tech Teens Meetup’, organised in line with one of the organisation’s core values of educating females on how they can leverage technology by equipping them with the required skills to better their lives.

The second edition of the programme, which was part of activities marking the International Day of the Girl-child, had in attendance girls between the ages of 13 to 16 from three schools: Caro Favoured School, Topfield College and Anikeola Schools.

In her remarks, the Programme Manager, Ms. Titi Oni, who enlightened the girls on the purpose of the programme, said it aims to inspire and empower females economically by making them independent and to have a competitive edge anywhere they find themselves.

“We are happy that we are able to impart knowledge and inspire these young ladies, and certain they will return to their respective homes with a renewed ambition to be tech queens of tomorrow.”

She said her organisation is focused on solving Africa’s biggest challenges by supporting the digital ecosystem of start-ups, investors, corporations, mentors and social entrepreneurs.

A female Techpreneur and Chief Executive Officer of Deep Ocean Consult, Nkiruka Ilewi, recalled her experience in the field of technology and how it has helped her achieve a successful career and business so far. She advised the girls to pursue a career in a tech-related field and highlighted the numerous opportunities that technology offers, saying that it is financially rewarding.

Ilewi cited instances of how big organisations are paying computer programmers and coders huge sums to engage their services.

The girls also had a session with Olaoluwa Olawuyi, a 16-year-old software developer who is one of the young achievers in the Nigerian tech ecosystem.

He took them on lessons about programming, its importance and benefits to them and their immediate environment. He encouraged them as he personalised the ideology that teenagers can also code.

The students were taken on a tour of StartZone’s facility, including the organisation’s Tech Academy, where they had the opportunity to interact with the developers and were also introduced to some of their ongoing projects. They had a first-hand experience of virtual reality with headsets with which they could watch a 360 degree movie.
Some of the girls expressed their interest to be enrolled in the academy after their secondary education.