Foundation encourages Kogi girls to acquire ICT skills

The Heritage and Legacy Foundation has urged girls in Kogi state to embrace information technology to enable them to function properly in leadership positions in whatever sector they find themselves in future.

The founder of the foundation, Hassan Abdul stated this on Saturday at the 2024 edition of Kogi ‘Girltech’ 2024 event, an annual “Girls in ICT” commemorative event in the state.

“Empowering women in the ICT sector is not just a matter of gender equality; it is a crucial driver of economic and social development for Kogi State and beyond. ICT is now a major driver of innovation in even sectors such as agriculture, tourism and hospitality, healthcare and construction. Kogi’s highly intelligent workforce can gain a significant advantage with more emphasis placed on the adoption and ulitisation of ICT skills,” he told the gathering in his opening remarks.

In a similar vein, the Senior Special Assistant on Education to the Governor of Kogi State, Hon. Nana Hauwa Kazeem also emphasized that, “The world is rapidly changing, and technology is becoming an integral part of our future. Therefore, we must prepare ourselves, especially girls and women, to navigate and shape this future.

“By embracing ICT skills and leadership roles, we will be empowered to drive innovation, bridge the gender gap, and create a more equitable and sustainable future for all. The current administration of His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, is not only passionate about education but particularly in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. We are committed to implementing the vision where every Kogites is included in the global direction and every Kogi youth is empowered with digital skills,” she said.

A total of 70 girls from six secondary schools in Lokoja, along with their parents and teachers attended the event.

The highlight of the event was the graduation of the second cohort of girls the foundation had sponsored to acquire ICT skills in partnership with Brainpals Code Academy. The 10 graduands had acquired skills in three main areas: web design and coding, graphic design and digital literacy and used the event to practically demonstrate some of the skills they had learnt. Hon. Nana Hauwa awarded special cash prizes to outstanding graduands. All the girls were also extended a reward of the payment of their WAEC and JAMB fees by the foundation in recognition of their diligence.

Also speaking earlier at the event, Mrs. Folusho Owoeye, the immediate past Kogi state coordinator of Nigerian Women in ICT challenged the participants and graduating students to leverage the power of self leadership in their career growth.

“Self-leadership is about taking control of your own life, making informed decisions, and setting a course for your personal and professional growth. It’s about understanding who you are, what you stand for, where you want to go, and leading yourself into achieving it. In the rapidly changing world of technology, where innovation is constant and challenges are numerous, self-leadership becomes even more critical,” she said.