Eko Innovation Centre collaborates with Africa Agility to educate 10,000 girls in Lagos about technology
Eko Innovation Centre collaborates with Africa Agility
To close the gender divide in technology and increase female participation, the Eko Innovation Centre (EIC) has partnered with Africa Agility and Impact Lagos to train 10,000 girls in technology over the next five years in Lagos.
The second edition of the program, dubbed "Girls in Tech Bootcamp Lagos," took place this weekend at the Eko Innovation Centre, and was attended by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu.
Victor Gbenga, Founder, Eko Innovation Centre; Abisola Olusanya, Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture; Tunbosun Alake, Special Adviser, Innovation and Technology, to the Lagos State Governor; and Aanu Gopald, Founder, Africa Agility, were also in attendance.
The event demonstrated the Eko Innovation Centre's widespread impact in the state since it began operations. Additionally, it demonstrated Governor Sanwo-commitment Olu's to the state's innovation and technological development.
Victor Gbenga, Founder of the Eko Innovation Centre, explained that the Girls in Tech initiative aims to democratize opportunities for women in technology.
Victor Gbenga stated, "This year, we partnered with Africa Agility to equip Nigerian female youth with the digital skills necessary to pursue opportunities in technology and business." As part of the Girls in Tech initiative, we trained 100 girls last year and another 100 this year.
“Among these women are undergraduates, unemployed, and single mothers with no prior IT experience. We groomed them for about a month during the bootcamp, which culminated in a three-day hackathon during which they presented tech-enabled solutions centered on the Lagos T.H.E.M.E.S agenda,” he added.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu lauded the centre's work, emphasizing how the Girls in Tech bootcamp empowers females to create the technology necessary to leapfrog current challenges and transform Lagos into a smart city.
Additionally, the Governor committed to providing free laptops and tablets to the 100 girls who participated in the program's second cohort.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu stated, 'whether tablets or laptops, each girl will undoubtedly receive one. For me, that becomes a tool they can use in conjunction with the learning and skills they will acquire in the future.'
In Conclusion
The Eko Innovation Centre is broadly focused on civic technology, aiming to generate social impact through the development of technological solutions to problems faced by state and regional governments. Among these are innovations such as those developed at last year's Lagos smart meter hackathon.
Aanu Gopald, founder of Africa Agility, stated that the Girls in Tech bootcamp's goal is to train 10,000 girls over the next five years.
According to her, up to 38 of the 100 participants in this year's bootcamp secured jobs, seven established their own businesses, and several others work as freelancers.
Among the innovative solutions presented at the event by the girls are a telemedicine platform for virtual doctor appointments and Track4me, a traffic management system.
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Fundamentals of Science and Technology Course and Certificate
