By Stella Okoh-Esene
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has commended the Lola Cater for the Needy Foundation for its remarkable initiative in empowering 500 young girls across Nigeria with digital and technology skills.
The Special Assistant to the Director-General of NITDA, Mrs. Iklima Musa gave this commendation during the WeTechHer Graduation Ceremony and Book Launch .
She described the initiative as timely and essential in a fast-evolving digital world emphasizing the need for inclusive digital development as technology is exponentially growing in order to raise right leaders especially in girls.
She further encouraged the graduating girls to be innovators and problem-solvers emphasizing the importance of involving women in the creation of sustainable technological solutions.
Mrs Musa highlighted NITDA’s goal of achieving 70% digital literacy in Nigeria by 2030 through its Digital Literacy for All programs.
Also speaking in the same vein, Hon. Kehinde Charity Awujoola, Special Assistant to the Minister of Youths on Gender Matters, lauded the foundation’s commitment to empowering girls, describing it as “nation-building.”
She also emphasized the importance of equipping young girls with skills in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, UI/UX Design, Web Development, and Renewable Energy.
She assured the foundation of continued support from the ministry to expand the program across all states.
In his remarks, Dr. Kolawole Olobashola, Director of the FCT Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation, noted that digital empowerment for girls is a National necessity.
He pointed out barriers such as cultural norms and lack of access but stressed the importance of skills like coding, graphic design, and data analysis for employment in the global digital economy.
The Head of Education at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Chairman of the Committee of States’ Commissioners of Education, Dr. Leo Ebenezer, pledged the commitment of state education commissioners to promoting tech education for girls.
He also announced plans to incorporate tech empowerment for girls into the annual International Day of the Girl Child celebrations.
Founder of the Lola Cater for the Needy Foundation, Mrs. Ololade Ogunnubi, expressed delight in the achievements of the graduating girls noting that the program attracted nearly 1,500 applications in just 48 hours and provided intensive training in digital skills such as web development, animation, AI, and robotics.
She said, the girls are not just finishing a program but stepping forward as tech leaders, innovators, and future changemakers. describing them as Tech Queens, and the future is already brighter because of them .
The Girls expressed their appreciation to the Foundation and readiness to utilize the knowledge to the advantage of their society.
The highlight of the 2025 program with the themed ‘ Tech Queens : Unlocking the Digital Future for Nigerian Girls, marked the culmination of an intensive technology empowerment program and the unveiling of a book titled ‘Tech Queen’s The Code to the Future”.