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World Youth Skills Day 2022: Transforming Youth Skills For Change
| July 18, 2022
The only thing constant in life is change, whether in appearances, relationships, or career choices. This is because we live in a dynamic world, and as it evolves, we need to grow with it by consciously and consistently learning, unlearning, and relearning new concepts each day.
My Microsoft Hackathon Story: Favour Urhiofe
| July 18, 2022
My name is Urhiofe Favour Oghenerabome. I'm a Product Designer, a final year student of the Department of Computer Engineering at the University of Lagos, and a Women Techsters Alumna. I was also born and raised in Delta State, Nigeria.
WTFellowship 101
| July 18, 2022
Congratulations! You made it despite the hurdles of the application to the Nigerian.Women Techsters, from the application to the video submission to the assessment to the interview, now you're in! If you didn't make it, I still have something for you, so still read through.
A day with Women Techsters Fellows at Wema Bank
| July 18, 2022
When I walked into the Wema Bank headquarters building in Marina Lagos, I couldn’t have imagined how my day would go. It was a day I got to meet firsthand some of the most innovative, forward-thinking women in tech.
Children Day 2022: Securing the future
| May 27, 2022
Opening Paragraph: May 27th is a day set aside in Nigeria as Children's Day. It is the day children are celebrated and are recognized as an essential part of any society. The day is observed as a public holiday in primary and secondary schools across the country.
International Day of Girls in ICT, Access, and Safety
| June 20, 2022
One fascinating fact about the world we live in is its constantly changing nature. There is always something new, but technology is at the core of this. This claim is based on the fact that technology has remained a constant despite the various changes.
Here are the things you should know if you consider transitioning into tech
| June 20, 2022
Recently, there has been an uproar about the relevance of learning a tech skill, especially for those looking at attaining financial freedom. If you belong to this category, the very first thing I would like you to know is: that you do not precisely need background knowledge in science to transition into tech.
Crypto, NFTs, Metaverse, what next?
| April 04, 2022
To say that the world has gone fully digital is not exaggerating. We are now entirely in the Information Age. The Information Age began in the mid-20th century. It signifies the rapid transition of the world from a traditional industry to a technology-inspired economy.
My Microsoft Hackathon Story- Taiwo Famakinde
| April 04, 2022
My name is Taiwo Famakinde, and I am a woman in tech. I come from a family of 7 from Osun State, Nigeria. I have a twin sister, and we’re the last children in the family.
My Microsoft Hackaton Story - Hannah Olaniyi
| March 25, 2022
My name is Hannah Olaniyi, from Osun State, Nigeria. I'm from a family of 6 and the second of four children. I am currently a 300-level student at the University of Lagos, Nigeria, studying Education and Biology and a Product Designer.
Volunteer Spotlight – Yazid Salahaludeen Mikail.
| March 25, 2022
My name is Yazid Salahaludeen Mikail. I hail from Kaduna State, and I am a 3rd-year chemical engineering student at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. I heard about Tech4Dev from social media.
Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.
| March 08, 2022
According to the Women’s Economic Empowerment Issues paper, April 2011 edition, Women’s economic empowerment is a prerequisite for sustainable development, pro-poor growth, and achieving all the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The Love Act 2.0
| Febuary 03, 2022
All around the world, February is known as the month of love. In commemoration of this, Tech4Dev, in partnership with our technology partner, Prunedge, carries out the Love Act every year. The Love Act was born out of a need to show love to the people in our immediate community.
Women Techsters Tech Drive
| Febuary 18, 2022
According to United Nations, despite a shortage of skills in most technological fields driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution, women still account for only 28% of engineering graduates and 40% of computer science and informatics graduates.
WOMEN TECHSTERS BENEFICIARIES SPOTLIGHT: EMWIONGBON IVIE
| January 18, 2022
My name is Emwiongbon Ivie, a beneficiary of the Women Techsters Fellowship. I studied computer science in school, and while in school, I have always loved the idea of becoming a programmer and building applications that work on both mobile and the web. I saw how these innovations changed the world, and I wanted to be part of it.
DIGITAL SKILL FOR EMPLOYABILITY (DSFE) BENEFICIARIES SPOTLIGHT: AYOOLUWA BALOGUN
| Febuary 4, 2022
My name is Ayooluwa Olufunmilayo Balogun, a graduate of Biochemistry from the University of Lagos. I am currently a beneficiary of the Digital Skills for Employability (DSFE) training.
Careers in Tech: Product Design
| Febuary 4, 2022
Product design isn't just about 'pushing pixels' or 'making things pop.' Product design is about creating usable, functional, and beautiful experiences/products that satisfy user and business needs. - Olamide Jegede, Product Designer.
#Digitalforallchallenge Winners Selection Process
| January 28, 2022
We put out the first call for application for the #Digitalforallchallenge on the 16th of September 2021. The #Digitalforallchallenge is a program designed to equip people with digital skills while providing them with incentives as they learn.
Changing Course, Transforming Education
| January 24, 2022
The world is becoming a digital village. This development places a different demand on education, which means that education now includes equipping people with the digital skills needed to survive in a fully digitalized world.
2021 in Review
| January 7, 2022
Since this is the year's first blog post, it's just right to wish you a Happy New Year. Offices have officially resumed by the time. Hopefully, productivity is beginning to kick in. Most organizations start the new year by reviewing how the previous year went, and we are not an exception. For us, last year was an inspiring and productive year. We kicked off many projects, held some events for the first time, and impacted many lives. Here is a run-down of how the year went.
WOMEN TECHSTERS BENEFICIARIES SPOTLIGHT: BABALWA MPUNYUKA
| January 14, 2022
My name is Babalwa Mpunyuka, from Pretoria, South Africa. I am currently a beneficiary of the Cybersecurity learning track of the Women Techsters Fellowship Program, sponsored by Tech4Dev in partnership with Microsoft.
International Human Rights Day 2021 'All human, all equal.'
| December 10, 2021
According to gov.uk, equality means understanding and tackling the different barriers to equal opportunities for other groups of people. The principles of equality and non-discrimination are at the heart of human rights.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities
| December 3, 2021
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 15 percent or over one billion of the world's population live with some form of disability. Going by this statistic, one can see that people living with disabilities constitute a significant percentage of the world's population.
Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!
| November 25, 2021
Violence against women (VAW), also known as gender-based violence, means any act done against the feminine gender that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering. Violence against Women has a very long, unpleasant history.
International Men's Day, 2021; Better relations between men and women
| November 19, 2021
International Men's Day is set aside to recognize and celebrate men's various achievements and contributions worldwide. It is celebrated annually on November 19th and was first celebrated in 1999. International Men's Day is also a day set aside to collaborate towards achieving shared objectives applied equally to men and boys irrespective of age, ability, social background, ethnicity, sexuality, gender identity, religious belief, and relationship status.
Careers in Tech: Cybersecurity
| November 18, 2021
One of the fantastic careers in tech with untapped potential is Cybersecurity, also known as Computer security, or Information Technology Security (IT security). Cybersecurity is the art of protecting data, devices, and organizations from theft or damage. It is also the practice of ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information.
World Science Day for Peace and Development: Building Climate-Ready Communities.
| November 10, 2021
Earth is estimated to be 4.54 billion years old, plus or minus about 50 million years. A planet that old with active living organisms as inhabitants is expected to feel the impact of the activities of its occupants. One of the ways this impact reflects is called Climate change. Climate change is a deviation from the predicted weather condition.
Staying Connected with Your Business in A Digital World
| November 5, 2021
Recently, Mark Zuckerberg, co-Founder of Facebook, Inc. and serial entrepreneur, made an announcement that rocked the world. Facebook's name was changing to Metaverse, and with this new name, they were introducing a new concept. The Metaverse was designed to explore the shared virtual reality part of the internet
How To Get into The Tech Space
| October 30, 2021
Over time, the tech sector has grown to be one of the most rewarding sectors globally. Here are some statistics to back up this claim. According to Goremotely, The US tech industry market is worth around $1.6 trillion, and the tech industry is expected to reach a $5 trillion market value by the end of 2021.
International Day of the Girl Child, 2021 - Digital Generation. Our Generation
| October 11, 2021
Globally, the percentage of females among Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) graduates is below 15 percent in over two-thirds of countries. And in middle and higher-income countries, only 14 percent of girls who were top performers in science or mathematics expected to work in science and engineering compared to 26 percent of top-performing boys. - un.org
Facilitator Spotlight: Winner Emeto
| October 6, 2021
For every project that we successfully carry out, we have help in the form of volunteers, from NWT to The Women Techsters Open Day, Bootcamp, and even Fellowship. Volunteering is an essential part of our organization, and we do not take every person who has volunteered with us for granted.
World Teachers’ Day: Teachers at the Heart of Education Recovery
| October 5, 2021
October 5th is set aside to mark World Teachers' Day, also known as International Teachers'’ Day. It is an international day held annually and established in 1994 to commemorate the signing of the 1966 UNESCO / ILO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. This standard-setting instrument addresses the status and situations of teachers around the world.
TECH4DEV LAUNCHES THE I AM A WOMAN TECHSTER CAMPAIGN WITH AN ART EXHIBITION
| September 20, 2021
To achieve her goal of impacting 10,000 women in 2021 and 5 million women across Africa by 2030 through the Women Techsters initiative, Tech4Dev - a non-profit social enterprise working to provide access to decent work for Africans through digital and technology skills empowerment and advocacy- launched the #IAmAWomanTechster Campaign with an Art Exhibition on Sunday, 12th of September 2021.
#IAMAWOMANTECHSTER ART EXHIBITION
| September 20, 2021
The launch of the #IAMAWOMANTECHSTER campaign through the #IAMAWOMANTECHSTER Art Exhibition was such a success. The #IAMAWOMANTECHSTER Campaign is geared towards celebrating women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields in general and inspiring more women to consider the endless possibilities available to them within the technology ecosystem
International Literacy Day: Narrowing the Digital Divide
| September 8, 2021
Happy International Literacy Day! The theme for the 2021 International Literacy Day is “Literacy for a human-centered recovery: Narrowing the digital divide.” We stand in solidarity with every person or organization striving to ensure global literacy, especially digital literacy towards narrowing the digital divide.
Tech4Dev Partners Sterling Bank on Providing Employment for Women in Tech.
| September 1, 2021
Building on its quest to build a diverse and inclusive team, Sterling Bank has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Technology for Social Change and Development Initiative (Tech4Dev), a non-profit social enterprise working to provide access to decent work for Africans through digital and technology skills empowerment and advocacy.
How Young Is Too Young: Dealing with Children's Involvement in Tech.
| September 1, 2021
In a new national survey conducted on the most current snapshot of technology by the Erikson Institute, whose sample was 1,000 American parents with children under age 6. 85 percent of parents reported that they allow their young children to use Technology.
Leveraging Technology for Food Sustainability.
| August 24, 2021
We hosted a virtual panel session with industry experts in the Agrotech/Agribusiness fields to mark International Youth Day. Two panels constituted the panel session. Our guest speakers for the first panel moderated by Yemisi Arowosafe, Communications lead, Tech4Dev were Ayodeji Arikawe, Co-Founder, Thrive Agric; Oyindamola Asaaju, Agribusiness Professional and Oluwatosin Ogunsola, Chief Executive, Templus Agro-Consults Limited.
Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health.
| August 12, 2021
According to a 2019 UN Report, the world's population is expected to increase by 2 billion persons in the next 30 years. We believe that through sensitization, education, and empowerment, we can inspire youths to create entrepreneurial solutions that can bring about changes, including sustainable food systems.
Digital Literacy
| August 7, 2021
A person’s identity is who they are, and/or what makes them unique. In the context of our digital world, a literate person is knowledgeable, competent and up-todate with basic digital tools. A digital literate must possess digital skills which birth the competency to use digital devices independently.
Women Techsters Fellowship Mini Demo Day.
| August 7, 2021
On the 5th and 6th July, the Women Techsters Fellows had a mini demo day to showcase what they have learned so far and prepare for their final project. In total, 28 groups had presentations to make. Various groups duly represented each learning track. We had six groups, nine groups, two groups, six groups, and five groups respectively in product design, software development, product management, Data Science, and Ai and Cybersecurity learning tracks.
Tech4Dev’s Mental Health Awareness Event.
| June 15, 2021
Every year, the month of May is set aside to create awareness around Mental health. In general terms, mental health is the emotional well-being of an individual. For a very long while, mental health has been viewed as less important than the state of the body, especially in this part of the world. But statistics have shown that the state of one's mental health is, in fact, just as important as the state of the person's body.
TECHDEV HOLDS ROUND TABLE CONVERSATION THEMED REIMAGINING YOUTH SKILLS POST-PANDEMIC TO MARK WORLD YOUTH SKILLS DAY 2021
| July 26, 2021
The World Youth Skills Day is an annual event organized by the United Nations (UN) to celebrate the importance of empowering youths with decent work, employment, and entrepreneurship skills. The focus of this year’s celebration is the resilience and the creativity of youths during the pandemic while discussing the roles that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) systems have played in youth empowerment and the strategies to be adopted in the post-COVID-19 world.
Tech4Dev Partners with the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development on Reducing Unemployment in Nigeria by upskilling 36,000 youths.
| July 6, 2021
The rate of unemployment in Nigeria has been on an upward trend over the past couple of years. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the Nigerian economy suffered another coronavirus-induced setback, as unemployment rate jumped from 27.1% as at Q2’2020 to 33.3% as at Q4’2020. Correspondingly, the number of unemployed persons rose by 6.4% to 23.2 million as at Q4’2020 from 21.8 million as at Q2’2020. The current unemployment rate is the highest ever, with unemployment scourge being magnified by COVID-19 crisis. According to Statista.com, the unemployment rate in Nigeria is estimated to reach 32.5 per cent in 2021. This figure is projected to increase further in 2022.
Women Techsters Beneficiaries Spotlight: Jessica Tebogo
| July 13, 2021
Asides equipping women with digital and deep tech skills to bridge the gender divide within the technology ecosystems, one of the major objectives of the Women Techsters initiative is to help these women access decent work and gain financial independence and stability.
Partner Spotlight: Microsoft.
| April 7, 2021
Asides from being a multinational organisation, Microsoft is also an enterprise deeply invested in corporate philanthropy. Since its existence, Microsoft has partnered with many organisations to achieve technological advancements in different parts of the world, especially in Africa. As of April 1, 2021, Microsoft Corporation disclosed that through its Global Skilling Initiative (GSI), it has helped over 30 million people in 249 countries and territories gain access to digital skills, topping its initial goal of 25 million last June.
Make Room: How to encourage Women Participation in Tech.
| August 7, 2021
It is no longer news that all over the world, women are side-lined in the tech industry. This is majorly because of stereotypes. These stereotypes are birthed and upheld by society and culture. It is even a struggle in some underdeveloped countries before young girls and women can get basic education.
World Youths Skills Day: Reimagining Youth Skills Post-Pandemic
| July 19, 2021
The World Youths Skills Day is a day set aside yearly to celebrate the strategic importance of equipping young people with employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship skills. This day was first set aside by the United Nations (UN) in 2014 in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8; Decent Work and Economic Growth. Since then, World Youth Skills Day has been the perfect platform for proper dialogue on the importance of Technical and Vocational Training (TVET) organisations for youth development.
Myths About Women in Tech
| September 9, 2020
According to the World Economic Forum’s annual Global Gender Gap index, 2015, women make-up half the population and earn more advanced degrees than men in 100 countries… Why then are they a distinct minority in Tech?
Tech4Dev Launches the First Edition of the Women Techsters Fellowship Program Under the Women Techsters Initiative in Partnership with Microsoft
| May 17, 2021
Men in tech usually exceed women in tech by at least a 3:1 ratio or even higher in some sectors. As part of the commitment to bridge the digital divide between men and women in the Tech sector, Tech4Dev launched the first edition of The Women Techsters Fellowship on Monday, the 26th of April 2021.
Tech4Dev Announces Partnership with OK Foundation to Empower 1000 Youths with Digital Skills in Badagry
| June 3, 2021
On the 20th of May, Tech4Dev, in alliance with the Olu Kosoko Foundation (OK Foundation), declared the Badagry Digital Center open at 40th Birthday Ceremony of Prince Olu Kosoko of Iworo Kingdom, Badagry. This partnership was birthed due to the alarming rate of low involvement of Nigerian youths in the acquisition of digital skills.
The Women Techsters Initiative; A Solution Advancing Science, Technology and Innovation
| June 3, 2021
According to a 2020 UN Report, The COVID-19 pandemic has created the most significant disruption of education systems in history, affecting nearly 1.6 billion learners in more than 190 countries and all continents. This was one of the themes discussed at the Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Forum. The STI Forum is a global information platform focused on science, technology and innovation for Sustainable Development Goals. Over the years, this platform has become a dedicated virtual open source for knowledge sharing and dissemination of information in terms of research and innovation.
Tech4Dev Holds Stakeholders' Engagement Forum Post Basic Digital Literacy for Rural Clusters in Northern Nigeria program.
| April 7, 2021
In a time of social distancing and government-enforced lockdowns to curtail the spread of COVID-19, digital technology has enabled the continuation of work, education, and communication. But for millions of people who are unable to use technology, being offline is economically and socially isolating.
Advisory Board Member Spotlight: Blossom Ozurumba
| July 20, 2020
I currently work as the Innovation Advisor to the Chief Innovation Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
Advisory Board Member Spotlight: Ifeyinwa Egwaoje
| July 20, 2020
When women are excluded from the digital technology transformation, it magnifies existing inequalities and forestalls development.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Temilade Adelakun
| June 24, 2020
Tell us your Tech4Dev Story: I saw a graphic design about the Nigerian Women Techsters Initiative on one of the many WhatsApp groups I was in...
Importance of Cultural Diversity for Non-Profit Organisations
| September 9, 2020
In 1941, Mahnaz Afkhami an Iranian-American Human rights activist quoted “We have the ability to achieve—if we master the necessary goodwill—a common global society blessed with a shared culture of peace that is nourished by the ethnic, national and local diversities that enrich our lives”.
Inclusion of Women in Technology: A Stimulus for the African Economy
| September 9, 2020
Technology in today's world is no longer seen as an exclusive right of a few but rather a way of life that necessitates integration and inclusion for all. The most integral part of technology’s impact on the African economy is still tied to internet penetration per country, closing gender gaps, and creating access to opportunities for digital skill development for all Africans.
Is learning and working remotely the new normal?
| June 29, 2020
In light of the pandemic, we had to think quickly and rapidly of alternative ways to impact our beneficiaries without having to meet them physically.
The role light plays in science, culture, education and sustainable development
| May 17, 2020
It is common knowledge that light plays an important role in the continued existence of man. Since the birth of light in 1876 by the great Thomas Edison, humanity has not looked back since.
21st Century Technology Advancement and Women Participation
| May 8, 2020
The World we live in is dynamic; hence the constant changes we see around us. There is an increase in the number of women in technology which has brought with it an increased sense of self among women across the World.
Girls must have a Seat at the ICT table.
| April 23, 2020
Taking a journey down memory lane, during our pilot women coding program, Code4Impact, we trained 70 girls from University of Lagos(UNILAG), Lagos State University(LASU), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology(LAUTECH) and Yaba College of Technology(YABATECH).
Digital skills as a tool to unlock the african economy
| April 23, 2020
Working on the Nigerian Women Techsters (NWT) Initiative has exposed me to the limitless opportunities that can emerge from empowering women and the importance of consciously creating enabling environments for programs that impact communities through human capital development.
Massive opportunities for women in technology.
| May 31, 2019
As the old wisdom goes, if you lost your job, you could blame to suspects cheap labor in the developing world or computers, of course, it is a truism that technological change causes disruption in economies, but it is much greater step to argue that it causes unemployment, in fact the opposite seems to be true.
Why we need more women in tech in Nigeria
| May 31, 2019
Tech4Dev (Technology for Social Change and Development) initiated The Nigerian Women Techsters program, a program to train 2,400 women on programming skills in Nigeria.
Tech4Dev Announces Strategic Partnership with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on Digital Literacy Training in Northern Nigeria.
| April 7, 2021
As part of the efforts to empower vulnerable groups in rural clusters in Northern Nigeria with the digital skill set required for the future of work and advanced learnings for the 21st century in Nigeria, Technology for Social Change and Development Initiative (Tech4Dev)...
Women Techsters Initiative Launch: Inclusivity for 5 million Women in the African Tech Industry.
| April 7, 2021
On International Women's Day 2021, Tech4Dev, in partnership with Microsoft, held a launch event for its Women Techsters Initiative.
Tech4Dev Is Providing Solutions to Enable Decent Work
| June 28, 2019
With the advent of technological evolution, the world is changing rapidly; from how we communicate to how we conduct business to how we work. Daily lives and communication have been subsumed by the use of social media where interactions with people across the globe takes places in the new world of social; a world of interconnectivity and speedy communications.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Gift O. Maduabuchi
| May 20, 2020
Your background? I grew up in a Godly family. I am the only girl, surrounded by two lovely boys. I engage in male-dominated activities, such as playing football...
Advisory Board Member Spotlight: Olatomiwa Williams
| June 24, 2020
My passion for diversity in the technology industry drives my involvement in different initiatives focused on encouraging and developing diverse talents within the Information Technology Industry.
Volunteer Spotlight: Emeka Ofe
| December 2, 2019
My name is Emeka Ofe, a software engineer. I studied Chemical Engineering at the Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State, I switched my career from Chemical Engineering to Software Engineering due to my burning passion for software engineering. The journey has been thrilling so far.
Volunteer of the Month – Arinze Odika
| August 30, 2019
Arinze Odika is a 300 level student of Accountancy at the Imo State University Owerri. He volunteers as a local programs manager for the NWTImo program.
Volunteer of the month – Umar Farouk
| August 3, 2019
Farouq Umar is a writer, content developer, system analyst, program, and project manager. He also works as the Programs Manager at Startup Kano Hub.
Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Chris Adie
| June 30, 2019
Our volunteer of the month is Chris Adie, a tutor for Nigerian Women Techsters in Delta state and Women Techsters in Lagos state. In a short interview Chris answers vital questions on volunteering
Alumni Spotlight: Catherine John
| June 27, 2019
Meet Catherine John, a beneficiary of the Women Techsters Cohort 2. Catherine recently got into the Microsoft Leap Hackathon, and her team won the grand prize.