Young women in Ogun State have been empowered with practical skills in artificial intelligence (AI), digital technology, leadership, entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills to prepare them for the future of work.
Held at the Tech Talent Hub, Ijebu-Ode, the two-day programme attracted 130 registered participants, with 90 attending intensive training sessions aimed at bridging the digital skills gap and preparing young women for careers in an AI-driven economy.
Tagged Sisi in Tech, the digital empowerment initiative founded by politician and technology advocate, Mrs Adeola Azeez, was designed to bridge the gender gap in technology.
Speaking on the occasion, Mrs Azeez said the initiative was birthed after she observed that many graduates, including those from professional institutions, complete their education without the digital competencies increasingly required to succeed in today’s workplace.
She said Sisi in Tech was established to equip young women with practical technology skills that would improve their employability, encourage entrepreneurship and enable them to compete confidently in a rapidly evolving digital economy.
‘We want to transform the lives of young women who have faced barriers to employment by providing them with the tools they need to thrive in the digital age,’ she said.
The programme opened with a keynote by Chief Growth and AI Officer, Middle East and Africa Growth Markets, Microsoft, Ola Williams, who underscored the transformative potential of artificial intelligence and encouraged participants to embrace emerging technologies as tools for innovation, creativity and economic growth.
Day one, had: ‘Understanding AI and Putting It to Work,’ as theme and featured sessions on AI Foundations and Prompt Engineering, AI for Productivity and Work, and AI in Data and Analytics, facilitated by Data Science Nigeria. Participants also received financial literacy training from Wema Bank, while Mrs Toyin Taiwo, Founder of the Feminine Health and Fibroid Network (FHFN), spoke on women’s health and wellbeing.
Day two focused on: ‘Building a Career in the AI Economy,’ focused on Career Pathways in Data and AI, Freelancing and Income with AI, both facilitated by Data Science Nigeria, as well as a goal-setting session led by Mrs Moremi Onabolu Adeleye, Co-Founder and Registrar of TWIM Institute.
Speakers encouraged participants to view AI not as a threat but as a powerful tool for innovation, productivity and problem-solving.
One of the key messages was that AI itself will not replace people; rather, those who know how to use AI effectively will have an advantage over those who do not. Participants were urged to continue learning, adapt to emerging technologies and apply AI responsibly in their studies, careers and businesses.
Participants who spoke with The Nation described the programme as enlightening and transformative. A Master’s student, Pelumi Olabimpe Janet, said the training broadened her understanding of AI and its practical applications in learning, research and career development.
Students from Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) and the Ogun State Polytechnic of Health also said the programme changed their perception of AI. They admitted arriving with misconceptions about the technology but left with a better understanding of how it could be applied to education, entrepreneurship and solving real-world problems.
A major highlight of the programme was the Union Bank-sponsored Capstone Challenge, during which participants worked in teams to develop practical solutions using the knowledge and skills acquired over the two days.The projects were assessed by a panel comprising Mr Segun Aderinto of Learnflo, Mrs Comfort Moses of Wema Bank, Mrs Adejoke Adedapo of Union Bank, and Mrs Moremi Onabolu Adeleye, Co-Founder and Registrar of TWIM Institute.
Explaining the basis for selecting the winning team, the judges said the project stood out because of the team’s extensive and effective use of artificial intelligence in planning, coordinating and executing different aspects of its work. According to them, the team’s innovative deployment of AI demonstrated a practical understanding of how emerging technologies can improve collaboration, efficiency and problem-solving.
The top three teams received cash prizes sponsored by Union Bank, with the winners taking home ?250,000, the first runners-up receiving ?150,000, and the second runners-up earning ?100,000. The cash prizes drew loud cheers from participants as members of the winning teams went home smiling with their prizes.
Quiz winners and members of the winning Capstone Challenge team expressed appreciation to the organisers, describing the recognition as motivation to continue learning, innovating and applying the skills they had acquired.
In her closing remarks, Mrs Azeez urged participants not to allow the knowledge gained during the two-day programme to end with the event but to apply it in their studies, careers, businesses and everyday lives.
She said her greatest hope is that five years from now, participants will be able to look back and say that Sisi in Tech transformed their lives. A major highlight of the programme was the Union Bank-sponsored Capstone Challenge, during which participants worked in teams to develop practical solutions using the knowledge and skills acquired over the two days.