WITIN Summit drives growth of female technology talent

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The Women in Technology in Nigeria Girls’ National Summit and STEM Exhibition 2025 is already transforming the country’s education and technology landscape, one month after the event brought together girls, educators, policymakers, and industry leaders in the Federal Capital Territory.

Held in Abuja, the two-day summit drew around a thousand participants from across Nigeria, including representatives from Taraba, Borno, Kano, Anambra, and other states. The summit aimed to inspire female students to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics while providing practical exposure to solving real-world problems.

According to the statement on Sunday, the summit has ignited a wave of innovation in schools nationwide. Many institutions are now establishing new STEM clubs, introducing robotics and coding sessions, and initiating sustainability projects inspired by the exhibition.

“This is more than an event. It is a transformation,” Executive Director of WITIN, Martha Alade, said. “Girls from rural and urban schools are returning with renewed confidence. We are seeing classrooms transformed into mini innovation hubs.”

The summit was supported by key national and international institutions, including Secretary-General, ITU, Doreen Bogdan-Martin; the Federal Ministry of Communications, Digital Economy and Innovation; Director-General, NITDA, Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi; the Nigerian Communications Commission; the Universal Service Provision Fund; and the Internet Society Nigeria Chapter.

Participants were encouraged to develop STEM-based solutions aligned with at least one United Nations Sustainable Development Goal. The National STEM Competition and Exhibitions for Girls 2025, themed “Innovate for Impact: STEM Solutions for a Sustainable Future”, attracted 265 state-level entries, hosted regional exhibitions in Sokoto, Borno, Kano, Anambra, Oyo, Delta, and Ogun states, and culminated in a national final in Abuja.

Trinity Secondary School, Onitsha, emerged as the national champion for its SACHA project in waste management, while the first runner-up was Federal Government College, Maiduguri, with a Sustainable Smart City project focusing on urban and habitation solutions. Governor’s Girls College, Kano, secured the second runner-up position with a solar-powered truck project under the renewable energy category.

Other schools also received recognition for outstanding performance, including Government Science Secondary School, Maitama; Castle Hill Academy, Abuja; Government Science & Technical College, Garki; New Girls Science & Technical College, Kano; and UBEC Model Smart School, Kano.

The summit featured prominent national and international leaders, including Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy Dr Bosun Tijani; Secretary-General of the ITU Doreen Bogdan-Martin; Director-General of NITDA Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi; and several representatives from leading technology and financial institutions.

Academic partnerships played a key role in the event, with 11 universities across Nigeria, including the University of Abuja, University of Lagos, Covenant University, and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, providing mentorship and guidance to participants.

Industry leaders have praised the summit for cultivating a pipeline of female innovators ready to tackle Nigeria’s technological challenges. Several teams are now in discussions with mentors, investors, and organisations to bring their STEM projects to real-world deployment.

The organisers said the summit has left a lasting impact on the country’s education system, demonstrating that Nigerian girls are poised to drive the nation’s digital transformation and shape a sustainable technological future.

Justice has over three years experience spanning digital and print media. At The PUNCH, he currently covers the automobile sector with special interest in features and industry analysis.

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