Nigeria’s Digital Future Must Include Girls, Says First Lady Oluremi Tinubu

Nigeria’s First Lady, , has stressed the need for greater inclusion of girls in technology and innovation, saying the country’s digital future depends on providing equal opportunities for young women to participate in the digital economy.

She made the call at an award dinner held in Abuja for finalists of the National Girls in ICT Programme, where outstanding young innovators from across the country were recognised for technology-driven solutions developed through months of intensive training and competition.

The First Lady commended the participants for their creativity, determination, and commitment to using technology to solve real-life challenges affecting their communities.

According to her, empowering girls with digital skills is essential to building a more inclusive, innovative, and prosperous Nigeria.

She noted that the rapid pace of technological advancement presents enormous opportunities for young people, particularly girls, and urged stakeholders in both the public and private sectors to continue investing in programmes that promote digital literacy, innovation, and access to technology.

The highlight of the event was the recognition of exceptional projects developed by the finalists.

A team from emerged as the overall winner after developing an innovative mobile application designed to help deaf patients communicate more effectively with healthcare professionals.

The solution, which addresses communication barriers often faced by persons with hearing impairments in medical settings, was praised for its potential to improve access to healthcare and enhance patient outcomes.

The National Girls in ICT Programme aims to encourage more girls to pursue careers in information and communication technology by providing mentorship, training, and opportunities to develop practical solutions to societal challenges.

Participants at the event described the competition as a valuable platform for learning, collaboration, and innovation, while organisers reaffirmed their commitment to nurturing the next generation of female technology leaders.

The programme aligns with broader national efforts to bridge the gender gap in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields and ensure that young Nigerian women are equipped to contribute meaningfully to the country’s digital transformation agenda.