A non-governmental organisation, Odyssey Educational Foundation, has mentored over 250 girls to develop applications that will be deployed in solving problems in the community.
Speaking in an exclusive chat with Science Nigeria during the Technovation Celebration today (May 26, 2022) in Abuja, the foundation’s programme director, Stella Denis, said training was carried out by the foundation in conjunction with Technovation Girls, a US-based technology entrepreneurship project that inspires girls to change the world using technology.
According to her, Odyssey Educational Foundation founded in 2014, is committed to promoting, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and application with a view to catalysing industrialisation, research and development (R&D) and co-creating with nature in the African region.
She added that the training saw girls between ages 8 and 18 guided by mentors to work together in teams to build a mobile app or AI device to solve a specific problem in the society.
Denis said the initiative is set to bring in young girls into technology, as this could help to create an equal balance between the number of ladies in the tech sector.
“You will agree with me that the world is in desperate need of what women have to offer: Our voice, our perspective and our thinking. This project is one of the ways Odyssey Educational Foundation is fine-tuning the voice, perspective and thinking of young girls. Participating in this project has boosted the confidence of our girls, equipping them with team-spirit, research, presentation and public speaking skills amongst others.
“This season, we mentored over 250 girls from 14 government schools within the FCT who built mobile apps to solve various problems in the community. It is, indeed, a great honour to have you all here celebrate their consistency and hard-work with us.
“Also, we appreciate and commend the mentors who have dedicated their time and resources to support these girls to acquire technological skills, I hereby applaud and encourage them to keep up the great work.”
Denis appreciated sponsors and partners and urged players in helping invest in our youth, especially girls.
In his remarks, a representative of the US Embassy, Mr. Peter Buba, said that STEM education for girls is very important. He said the US Embassy has been more involved with tech innovation that is because girls in Nigeria are exceptional.
Buba said he was looking forward to young ladies impacting every sector, especially the tech sector, that would help develop communities and achieve gender equality.
