Foundation To Empower Over 50 Girls with Tech Ready Skills through  ‘Girls Can Code

 
 
Mary Nnah

In a significant move to empower girls in Nigeria with career opportunities in technology, the Pan-African Capital (PAC) Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of Pan-African Holdings, has forged a strategic partnership to equip young women from underserved communities with relevant skills to kick-start their careers in tech.

This project is possible through a partnership with Ustacky Nigeria, an edtech platform. Together, they aim to foster greater access and opportunities in the tech industry for young women across the country. The partnership will enable these ladies to be taught African industry-relevant IT skills and provide them with micro-degrees at an affordable price to make them job-ready.  

PAC Foundation unveiled the event recently and is set to empower 50 girls in the digital space who were selected after a rigorous screening process.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the PAC Foundation, Omolola Ojo, highlighted the objectives of the “Girls Can Code” initiative, emphasising its focus on equipping and empowering women with digital technology.

“The initiative aims to address the gender gap that exists between male and female counterparts in the tech industry and train a minimum of 50 girls aged 17-25, setting them up for the future as computer programmers, data scientists, and web designers.”

Omolola said “A lack of exposure to tech skills coupled with strong gendered norms continue to keep girls and women out of the field from an early age. The absence of visible women role models further drives and is cyclically driven by their under-representation.  Even for girls with exposure to tech, their interest is often dampened by a lack of gender-responsive and interdisciplinary curricula. To bridge this gender gap and create a platform for them to thrive, the foundation embarked on this training to equip them with the required tech skills to make them relevant in the technology space.”

She added that many girls may think that the tech industry is a “boys club” and feel unwelcome. Addressing these biases and creating a welcoming environment for girls in technology is essential. “The world of technology is rapidly advancing, however, women and girls in technology only make up between 28% and 42% of employees in leading technology companies, with an average of 31%. It becomes imperative to persistently advocate for girls in technology so the workforce must reflect the diversity of the society it serves, particularly regarding the representation of girls in technology.”

Customer Success and Leadership Manager, Ustacky, Hokon Opeoluwa Semasa said one way to spark an interest in technology is to encourage girls to participate in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) activities. He added that many schools and community organizations need to offer STEM programs, such as robotics clubs, coding camps, and science fairs. These initiatives provide girls with a hands-on and captivating approach to learning about technology.

Additionally, he stated that a contributing factor to girls’ hesitation in pursuing technology careers is the scarcity of female role models in the industry.
He emphasised the significance of girls witnessing successful women in technology careers, as it inspires them and demonstrates the possibilities within the field.
The programmes officer at PAC Foundation, Joshua Dominic added that the foundation is playing a significant role in encouraging girls to pursue their interests in technology. We are helping girls speak up when they encounter bias or stereotypes and create a culture that values diversity and inclusivity in the tech industry.

Dominic said, “Moreso, creating opportunities for hands-on learning. People learn best when they have the opportunity to learn by doing. Therefore, it is essential to create opportunities for hands-on learning in technology. This could include coding workshops or other technology-focused events.”
PAC Foundation is providing hands-on learning opportunities, where young women can gain confidence in their technology skills and see how they can apply those skills in real-world situations.