Girls Showcase Tech Solutions at CHAI-GESP Hackathon in Lagos
Stakeholders have strongly emphasized the critical importance of equipping young girls with comprehensive digital and technical skills, as participants at a significant hackathon event in Lagos developed practical solutions to address real-life challenges across multiple sectors including healthcare, finance, and logistics.
Event Details and Organization
The hackathon was organized by the Child Health Advocacy Initiative (CHAI) in partnership with the Girls Education and Skills Partnership (GESP) at Yaba College of Technology. The event brought together numerous young women who had received specialized training in areas such as web development, phone repair, and computer maintenance to present their innovative and practical technological solutions.
Dr. Elizabeth Alonge, founder of CHAI, described the event as "a celebration of possibility" that clearly demonstrates what can be achieved when girls are provided with genuine opportunities to learn and develop valuable skills. She explained that the initiative is fundamentally based on the belief that girls can actively shape their own destinies when they receive appropriate support, accurate information, and meaningful opportunities.
"We always thought it was like men or young boys that can only do tech, but this is an opportunity to show that girls can also be innovators," Dr. Alonge stated emphatically.
Training and Development Programs
Dr. Alonge further elaborated that participants had undergone extensive training and were now actively developing various applications, including fintech solutions, health applications, and logistics platforms designed to address genuine real-world problems. She referenced both global and national perspectives, citing remarks by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala regarding the substantial economic value of investing in women, along with comments by President Bola Tinubu concerning the crucial role of women in national development.
The Project Coordinator of Girls' Education and Skills Partnership (GESP) at Yaba College of Technology, Dr. Funmilayo Doherty, explained that the hackathon forms an integral part of the program's sustainability plan specifically aimed at identifying and nurturing talent among participants trained under the initiative. She detailed that approximately 69 applicants initially expressed interest, with 10 finalists ultimately selected to present their innovative solutions at the event.
"What they need is just the support. The plan is that the winners, apart from giving them the cash prize, we're also going to support them to start up their businesses," Dr. Doherty affirmed.
Program Achievements and Support Systems
Dr. Doherty noted that participants had received comprehensive training in both web and mobile application development and would continue to receive ongoing support through structured mentorship programs and business development opportunities. She added that since its launch in 2024, the program has significantly exceeded its original target of empowering over 5,250 young women with technical and digital skills, while simultaneously providing valuable start-up toolkits and professional certifications to support their successful transition into the workforce.
In her official remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Princess Adefulire, represented by Barrister Ayo Olugbenro, described the initiative as "a platform of hope, empowerment, and of transformation." The address highlighted the direct connection between youth innovation and the Sustainable Development Goals, noting that initiatives like this hackathon actively contribute to achieving critical targets including:
- Ending poverty in all its forms
- Ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education
- Advancing gender equality and women's empowerment
- Promoting sustained, inclusive economic growth
- Fostering innovation and resilient infrastructure
Adefulire, through her representative Olugbenro, strongly asserted: "Investing in youth innovation is not optional. It is essential." She emphasized that empowering girls with digital and technical skills creates substantial opportunities for inclusive participation, strengthens communities significantly, and enables young people to develop practical, effective solutions to real-world challenges.
Institutional Commitment and Industry Support
Similarly, the Rector of Yaba College of Technology, Dr. Ibraheem Abdul, stated that the hackathon clearly reflects the institution's strong commitment to fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development among young people, with particular emphasis on girls. He noted that the initiative serves as an effective platform for transforming creative ideas into viable solutions while simultaneously building resilience and entrepreneurial capacity.
Dr. Abdul added that participants had demonstrated remarkable dedication and commitment, positioning themselves as future leaders within Nigeria's rapidly evolving technology ecosystem. He reaffirmed the institution's focused commitment to producing graduates who can create meaningful opportunities and contribute substantially to national development.
Regional Head at Ecobank, Ademola Okuleye, highlighted the paramount importance of practical innovation, urging participants to focus not only on building technological solutions but on the tangible, real impact those solutions can generate within their communities. Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer of Open Access Data Centres (OADC), Ayotunde Coker, emphasized that efforts to encourage girls in technology must include:
- Early and consistent exposure to technology
- Structured mentorship programs
- Sustained support throughout their development
Mr. Coker noted that building a robust pipeline of women in the technology sector requires deliberate and long-term investment, adding that although outcomes may require time to manifest, such strategic efforts would undoubtedly yield significant results over time and substantially strengthen female leadership within the industry.
