What began as a program to train 40 secondary school girls in tech has prompted a broader conversation surrounding digital education and gender equity in Nigeria.
The SustainHERbility Tech Academy (STA), an initiative by The Sapphires Development Initiative (TSDI), concluded on May 9 with a vibrant tech exhibition held at the IACD Library/American Corner, Ibadan.
The event brought together students, educators, partners, and media houses like BCOS and Diamond FM.
But beyond the mobile apps, certificates, and cheers, what emerged was something bigger: the realization that girls ought to no longer remain passive consumers of technology, but instead can be trained to build it themselves.
Over eight months, girls drawn from schools across Oyo and Ogun States engaged in hands-on tech learning.
At the exhibition, they showcased mobile applications they had developed, apps aimed at solving real-life problems. Their presentations, filled with confidence and creativity, were the highlight of the day and left the audience inspired.
One participant, 14-year-old Misturah, shared that she didn’t even know how to operate a computer before the program. Now, she can confidently use a system and even build basic mobile applications.
The event also featured a keynote address by Angela Solomon from Theirworld, the exhibition’s major funder.
She encouraged the girls to “dream boldly” and reminded them that technology is not just a tool but a gateway to global opportunities.
In an engaging Q&A session that followed, participants asked thoughtful questions.
A panel discussion with STA beneficiaries and tech instructors highlighted personal stories about navigating tech as girls, the challenges they faced, and the breakthroughs that came from having a supportive community.
An announcement of winners in the SmartEd AI Essay Competition was made, with Odulate Ideraoluwa Taiwo named the overall winner.
Certificates were awarded to all participants, and volunteers who supported the program were celebrated too.
“The goal of this project was to make these girls into innovators and leaders who can be whatever they want to be,” said Olutomiwa Binuyo, Executive Director of TSDI. “And through this project, we have achieved that.”
Beyond the skills, the SustainHERbility Tech Academy aimed to dismantle deep-rooted gender stereotypes that often prevent girls from exploring careers in STEM. It created space not just for learning, but for dreaming.
STA’s success points to the urgent need for national digital literacy policies that ensure equal access and integration across school curricula.
As STA was another milestone, TSDI is looking toward expanding the program and empowering even more girls to build, lead, and shape their futures through technology.
