Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC), an NGO, has trained 800 secondary school girls in Kwara in technology and related courses.
W.TEC Curriculum Developer, Mr Lesley Tarabina, said at the graduation of the trainees on Wednesday in Ilorin that the program was meant to bridge the gender gap in technology.
The training drew participants from 15 schools – 10 from Ilorin and five from Offa, also in Kwara.
Tarabina said having more women in technology would boost the economy, noting that women would always work towards what would protect their interests specifically.
In her remarks, W.TEC’s Program Coordinator in Kwara, Mrs Tolulope Ibrahim, said the organisation had recorded tremendous achievements since 2018 when it started the training of students in four schools.
She said the schools were selected based on available resources, majorly, the provision of a minimum of 10 working computers and the acceptability of the school’s management.
“The training is at no cost to the students, while the schools only need to provide functioning computers and the organisation provides the facilitators and needed materials.
“Only 179 students are present at the graduation, but we trained more than 800 secondary school girls,’’ she said.
Permanent Secretary, Kwara Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, was represented at the graduation by the Director of Human Capital Development at the ministry, Mrs Eunice Abidoye.
She commended W.TEC for the opportunity given to the students.
In her remarks, Abidoye appreciated the organisation for promoting and showcasing innovative skills of the female students.
“Digital technology holds power and potential across the world and it is imperative for girls to have safe, inclusive and equal access to technology.
“I believe that with the right access and skills, girls will be fully empowered. So this is a commendable one from W.TEC,’’ she said.
In a keynote address earlier, Mrs Rashidat Dawodu, a Programs and Web Developer, noted the global trend of exploring solutions to human problems, using technology.
She urged the students to use the opportunity they got and ensure that they put all they learnt from the program to use.
W.TEC was formed in 2008 to bridge the gender gap in technology through Science, Technology, Education and Mathematics (STEM)
