A Nigerian technology initiative, AfroTechxcel, has trained 200 schoolgirls in coding and software development in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, as part of efforts to narrow the gender gap in Africa’s technology ecosystem.
The students, drawn from more than 14 secondary schools and four primary schools across the FCT, showcased technology-driven solutions they developed to address challenges within their communities.
Speaking during the Computer Training Programme held at Government Secondary School, Garki, Abuja, on Wednesday, the Executive Director of AfroTechxcel, Emerald Akhaumere, unveiled plans to scale up the initiative to train 1,000 schoolgirls in 2026.
Akhaumere disclosed that the organisation trained over 850 girls across Nigeria in 2025 and has commenced expansion efforts aimed at reaching 1,000 participants next year, beginning with the current cohort of 200 students.
She explained that the training formed part of activities commemorating the 2026 International Women’s Day.
According to her, although Africa records one of the highest proportions of female STEM graduates globally, about 47 per cent, higher than Europe’s 42 per cent and North America’s 39 per cent, women still occupy less than 12 per cent of leadership positions in Nigeria’s technology sector.
She said the initiative was designed to ensure that Nigerian and African girls move beyond being mere consumers of technology to becoming innovators and creators of digital solutions.
“I wear two hats as Executive Director of AfroTechxcel and as a Women Techmakers Ambassador, but the mission behind both roles is the same, to ensure that African girls are not just consumers of technology but architects of it,” she said.
Akhaumere noted that the programme was conceived to address the disconnect between the large number of women graduating in science-related fields and their low representation in technology leadership roles.
She also highlighted the funding challenges faced by women-led startups.
“Female-led startups received just about two per cent of global funding in 2024, while male-led startups attracted the overwhelming majority. Across Africa, only about eight per cent of software developers are women,” she said.
She explained that the “Break the Pattern, Build the Future” initiative was designed to intervene early by equipping girls in primary and secondary schools with digital and problem-solving skills before societal biases discourage them from pursuing careers in technology.
According to her, AfroTechxcel is building a pan-African movement aimed at empowering young women through technology.
“These girls are not just learning theory; they are coding real solutions to real problems within their communities,” she said.
Akhaumere expressed excitement over the creativity displayed by the participants, citing a group of students who developed a digital tool to assist cancer patients by providing information on nearby hospitals, response times and helpful activity guides for individuals undergoing treatment.
She added that AfroTechxcel has developed a Learning Management System, LMS, that enables participants to continue developing their projects even after completing the programme, with mentorship support from partner organisations such as the International Award for Young People Nigeria and Cloud Plexo.
Explaining her motivation for launching the initiative, Akhaumere said she once benefited from a similar opportunity while in secondary school, an experience that eventually led to her recognition by the African Union as one of the top 10 women innovators in Africa.
“If I had that opportunity and it helped shape my journey, then I must return to my community to ensure that other girls have similar chances,” she said.
Also speaking, the Director of the FCT Secondary Education Board, SEB, Hajia Fatima Babba, represented by Mrs. Ehidiamen Gladys Alero, said initiatives that promote digital skills among girls are critical to Nigeria’s technological and economic future.
Babba observed that despite the ICT sector contributing nearly 18 per cent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, women remain under-represented in engineering and technology professions, while millions of Nigerian women still lack access to reliable internet connectivity.
“This raises a critical question: can we afford to build our digital future with only half of our talents? The answer is clearly no,” she said.
She stressed that empowering girls with digital skills is essential for national development and commended AfroTechxcel and its partners for creating opportunities that expose young women to technology, innovation and leadership.
“To the girls here today, you are not too young to innovate and your ideas matter. Success requires discipline, resilience and character. When one girl succeeds, she inspires others, and when many girls succeed, communities are transformed,” she added.
She reaffirmed the board’s commitment to supporting initiatives that prepare girls to take leading roles in Nigeria’s digital economy.
