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By Adebowale Johnson
It was an inspiring scene at Yaba College of Technology’s Yusuf Grillo Auditorium as 200 young Nigerian girls, draped in hopeful smiles, stepped boldly into their futures. They stood tall as they received more than certificates. They received laptops, toolkits, and with them, a tangible key to a future once thought out of reach.
These were not ordinary graduation gifts. Each laptop, each precision screwdriver, each circuit tester represented a bridge — from exclusion to inclusion, from aspiration to action, from dependence to independence.
Their journey is one of transformation, made possible by UNICEF, Generation Unlimited, UK Aid, and the Girls’ Education and Skills Partnership (GESP), which champions opportunity for girls where tradition too often closes doors.
The GESP programme is a powerful initiative designed to bridge the gender gap in ICT and technical education, with an ambitious goal of empowering one million girls with vital digital skills. The recent graduates underwent intensive, hands-on training in four high-demand areas: Web Application Development, Mobile Application Development, GSM and Mobile Phone Repair, and Computer Hardware Maintenance and Repair.
For months, these girls, aged 13 to 24, dove into intensive, hands-on training across four in-demand tech fields: Web Application Development, Mobile Application Development, GSM and Mobile Phone Repair, and Computer Hardware Maintenance and Repair. Now, they leave not just as graduates, but as certified entrepreneurs and change-makers, clutching not only certificates but the very tools—laptops, GSM repair kits, and hardware toolkits—that will power their ambitions.
“We’re not just handing over equipment. We are handing over opportunity—the opportunity for young girls to shape Nigeria’s future,” declared Dr. Funmilayo Doherty, Project Coordinator of GESP. The mood was festive, yet weighty with the sense of history being made. Since its inception, GESP has already trained over 1,300 girls across three cohorts, and 2,553 more are actively learning on GESP’s online platform—a silent revolution brewing in bedrooms and boardrooms across Lagos.
In the hall, faith was more than a name, it was a lived reality. Beneficiary Faith Joseph, who trained in GSM and mobile phone repair, could barely contain her joy: “When I started this journey last November, I never imagined I’d be employed right after training. Today, I work as a technician at Carl Care. I’m so grateful for this opportunity.” Similarly, Joy, another beneficiary, earned N120,000 by developing a website—an achievement that underscores the program’s promise of turning skills into tangible success.
YABATECH’s Rector, Dr. Ibraheem Abdul, lauded the moment as a “landmark achievement,” one that showcased the power of partnership to break decades-old barriers. “Today’s ceremony is an affirmation of our commitment to inclusive, practical, and future-ready education. These young individuals are now entrepreneurs, problem solvers, and contributors to Nigeria’s digital economy,” Abdul told the audience. Each laptop and toolkit symbolised, as he put it, the audacity to pivot from classroom learning to real-world earning.
The ceremony also highlighted the broader societal impact of empowering girls. Representing the First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Abimbola Odumbaku praised the initiative as a “strategic investment in girl-child development.” She tied the program to the Lagos State Government’s vision of building an inclusive and innovative workforce — one that doesn’t discriminate by gender.
“The education of young women brings immeasurable benefits, not just to the individual, but to society as a whole,” she said. “As stakeholders, we must advocate for an education that prepares our children not just to pass exams, but to be financially independent, emotionally resilient, and socially relevant.”
UNICEF’s Social Policy Manager, Mohammed Okorie, emphasized the urgency. “The skill ecosystem in Nigeria is below expectations in relevance and scale, Too many youths, especially adolescent girls. are left behind.” he said. However, the innovation and technologies introduced by partners have created new opportunities for marginalized girls and women, enabling them to acquire in-demand skills,” Okorie remarked.
“This program is a catalytic force,” Okorie declared. “It’s not just about training, it’s about transforming the youth skills landscape.
As the ceremony ended, the girls didn’t just walk away with tools. They walked with confidence. Some already have job offers. Others are mentoring new trainees. A few are planning to start their own repair shops or tech hubs.
In a country where unemployment among youth hovers near 60%, and young women are disproportionately affected, GESP is more than a project, it’s a blueprint for hope.
