In a bid to prepare women for emerging economic opportunities in the tech ecosystem, Wise Network Foundation, has trained and graduated100 women in data analytics and generative Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The training which held virtually was organised in partnership with Leadway Assurance Company Plc, and held under the Cohort 2.0 of Wise Tech Titans programme, an initiative designed by the Foundation to equip women and youth with practical, future-focused and in-demand technology skills.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony, held in Lagos, Executive director and the founder of Wise Network Foundation, Adeyinka Akinyede-Ashaolu, explained that the training drew women from South Western states.
She empahsised that it was part of the Foundation’s broader work in promoting self-leadership, financial literacy/inclusion and practical entrepreneurship with a focus on expanding access to opportunities that can support youth and women’s economic participation.
While highlighting importance of translating skills acquisition into practical results and economic value, Ashaolu said: ‘Technology is changing how businesses operate, how decisions are made and how opportunities are created. But acquiring a skill is only the first step. The real value comes from what you do with that skill”.
She also highlighted the complementary roles of digital skills and financial literacy in helping individuals build sustainable livelihoods.
According to her: ‘Wise Tech Titans 2.0 provided practical training in Microsoft Excel, SQL and Power BI, alongside exposure to Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and Gamma.
‘Through Wise Tech Titans, Wise Network Foundation continues to promote women’s participation and youth development in the digital economy by connecting practical technology training with career development, entrepreneurship and financial empowerment.”
The training she further explained introduced the women to financial products and services, cash-flow management, wealth creation and personal financial planning.
The inclusion of financial literacy, she said reflected Wise Network Foundation’s focus on combining skills development with financial capability and entrepreneurship.
The programme, she said provided for the documentation of participant demographics, skills acquired, project outputs and employability-related outcomes as part of its impact reporting.
‘Participants, worked on practical projects and received guidance on LinkedIn optimisation and portfolio development to improve their professional visibility and career prospects’, she added.
However, she encouraged the graduates to apply their knowledge to solving business problems, improving productivity, supporting better decision-making and creating income-generating opportunities.
On the other hand, she commended Leadway Assurance for its sponsorship, which made the training possible.
Speaking also at the event, a representative of Leadway Assurance, Team Lead, Data Management and Analytics, Oluwatoyin Oyedele spoke on the importance of digital skills in helping young people access opportunities in the technology sector.
Drawing on her professional experience at Leadway, Oyedele discussed the use of technology-enabled solutions and highlighted pathways to career development, professional advancement and financial independence.
On his part, a representative of CcHUB Robert Ekat, who spoke on, ‘Technology skills: Enabling youth innovation and economic growth,’ discussed how digital skills drive youth innovation.
Ekat also pointed graduates to platforms where young women can find remote work and earn income, and identified potential areas of collaboration between CcHUB and Wise Network Foundation.
Beyond technical training, the programme incorporated financial literacy sessions covering financial products and services, cash-flow management and personal wealth creation.
This approach, the organisers noted reflected the Foundation’s emphasis on combining the ability to earn with the knowledge needed to manage financial resources effectively.
The organisers also noted that the graduation marked the completion of the formal training phase, while the continued use of these skills, they said would determine how participants translate the learning and project experience into professional and economic opportunities.
Some of the participants who spoke in an interview commended the organisers of the training, describing it as insightful empowering.