W.TEC Partners Oracle Academy to Mark 2023 International Girls in ICT Day
Press Release: Lagos, Nigeria
The Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC) marked the 2023 International Girls in ICT Day in collaboration with Oracle Academy to host a special event for select 100 Secondary School girls at Bishop Howells Memorial Grammar School, in Bariga, Oworonshoki, Lagos, for an insightful session which featured amazing speakers who were women in Tech from Oracle Nigeria who shared with the girls from their wealth of experience motivating stories and tips to inspire the young girls about technology and all of the opportunities it offers.
Introduction
The event was aimed at inspiring and exposing girls in secondary schools to different careers in technology and help them have a better understanding of the opportunities in the STEM field. The day’s activity featured a Keynote speech and technology career show /panel where 4 women with different technical roles from Oracle and Oracle Academy shared their experiences and career journey with the girls. The girls learn a lot and thereafter, asked questions about the various technology roles/ options and activities that may exist in an organisation. Some of them also shared their academic doubts and concern with the speakers.
In her welcome address for the occasion, Mrs Oreoluwa Lesi, Executive Director of W.TEC explained to the gathering that STEM subjects were easy to learn, urging them to pursue any career in the tech space. She said that closing the gender gap in the technology space in Nigeria was of critical importance because failure to do so meant the loss of vast diversified human resources that could contribute to national development and could further widen gender inequality.
- The keynote Speech:
The keynote speaker- Oluwafumilayo Awelewa, Territory Executive Manager, Oracle
addressed the girls on the topic “Digital Skills for life”. She shared tips on
various digital skills which include, data analytic, data management, desktop
publishing, web design and development. She further shared useful tips on how
to stay safe online, how to personalize a document and many more.
The session was well detailed and interactive as most of the girls had a swell time
asking lots of questions. She encouraged the girls to achieve more regardless
of their size, school department, life challenges and gender.
To end the speech, she left the students with this powerful statement “Nothing in
life is to be feared, it is to be understood; now is the time to understand
more to be fearless. Never believe you could do less because you are a woman!
You are the best”.
- The Panel Session:
The event featured a Technology career show panel where women with different technical roles shared their tech journeys, challenges, experiences with the girls.
Members of the panel includes, Kehinde Adewunmi- Business Support Manager,
Oracle Nigeria, Abiodun Omolara Jude Chiedu- Regional VAD Manager East and West Africa, Oracle Nigeria, Oluwafumilayo Awelewa, Territory Executive Manager Oracle and Bekere Amassoma- Program Manager, Oracle Academy Sub Saharan African. The panel was moderated by Folashade Braimoh- Senior Programme Manager, Partnership- W.TEC.
The students in attendance were inspired and motivated, and this was evident by the deluge of questions that they peppered the speakers with and the way they mobbed them afterward.
- Testimonials:
Some of the students/ participates at the event shared their testimonials and excitement about the event:
“The program was very encouraging. It taught me a lot about myself. I learnt that I should be confident, face my fears and be happy. I was encouraged to focus on my studies”.
– Mary
“I enjoyed the event It was innovative and informative. We were taught the importance of ICT skills. I was encouraged by the life experiences shared. Thank you so W.TEC and Oracle”.
– Adeola
Event Media Gallery
- Event photo album: Click here to view pictures
- Press coverage:News Agency of Nigeria
- Press Coverage: Voice of Nigeria
- YouTube:Watch Event Playlist
- Social Media Postings: W.TEC Twitter page, W.TEC Instagram Page, W.TEC Facebook Page
- About W.TEC
The Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC) is a Nigerian non-profit organisation committed to building a more inclusive technology ecosystem, with the next generation of women technology creators, entrepreneurs and leaders. Over the last year, our work has expanded to explore how technology can improve learning outcomes and better integrate students with developmental disabilities and special needs, such as Autism and Down’s syndrome.
Our programmes encourage more girls to pursue technology careers and support women (entrepreneurs and in civil society) to use technology confidently to increase their economic power and ability to speak about issues affecting their lives.
Our programmes include:
- Early Innovators Camp (5 – 9 years)
- She Creates Technology Camp (13 – 17 years)
- W.TEC Academy Afterschool Technology Clubs (10 – 17 years)
- SHE CAN WITH ICT (Technology for Entrepreneurship)
- Staying Safe Online
- MentorHER (Mentorship & Leadership for Female STEM Undergraduates)
This is done through technology trainings, mentoring, work placement and research. W.TEC works in partnership with local and international NGOs, educational and research organizations.
W.TEC was set-up in January 2008 and conceived in response to research that showed that although ICTs significantly contribute to a nation’s development and growth, women – who make-up approximately half of Nigeria’s population – are severely lagging behind in their knowledge and use of technology.
MISSION:
To educate, connect and empower Nigerian women through active engagement with information and communication technology via training, mentoring and research.
VISION:
A society where Nigerian women and girls are able to create and use information and communication technology for learning, activism, entrepreneurship, and professional activities effectively.
GOALS:
- To equip girls with the skills to create technology and digital content
- To educate girls about and inspire them to pursue science and technology-related career opportunities
- To support girls as they embark on a science and technology-related career path
. To establish a network of technology-fluent alumni and mentors.
For more information about W.TEC’s programmes and event, get in touch with:
Contact Persons:
Folashade Braimoh (Snr. Programmes Manager),
+234 808 169 0699 Folashade@wtec.org.ng
Adeyemi Odutola (External Relations Lead),
+234. 818 .870 .9251 yemi@wtec.org.ng
W.TEC
Email: info@wtec.org.ng Website: www.wtec.org.ng
Twitter: @wteconline Facebook: @wteconlinepage
Instagram: @wteconline