By Vivian Onyebukwa
To curb the high rate of unemployment, especially amongst women, a Non-Governmental Organisation, Techy Train Incubator Foundation, has concluded the 7th Cohort basic digital skills training programme for women between the ages 16 and 30.
The 6-week online intensive training programme, which commenced on February 20, ended on March 31, with 1664 participants.
Organisers revealed that the 8th Cohort, which would train 333,340 girls and women across Africa, commences in July.
The Foundation, through its Tech-Up Girls initiative, in partnership with Isaac Creative, and the W Initiative of the Access Bank, had participants being exposed to the world of technology, as well as being guided on how to leverage technology to survive, thrive and be globally relevant.
During the duration, resource persons took participants through the concept of technology and how it can be applied in different areas of their lives; social media, and how to use the platform correctly, creating and editing videos, understanding web development, designing a website and how to effectively position themselves for better opportunities.
According to Excellence Anurika Joshua, the Foundation CEO, the program is designed to help girls and women learn and be empowered to earn and work.
“It focuses on being empowered with relevant digital skills for decent jobs, employability, and entrepreneurship to fulfil SDG 4.4.”
She added that embedded into the program are weekly life-enhancement calls where the intellect area of these women is stimulated.
Participants were pulled from 19 countries, including Botswana, Cameroon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Lesotho, Liberia, and Namibia. Others are Tanzania, the Northern Mariana Islands, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, and Malaysia.
So far, TTI has trained 7470 girls from over 25 countries, majorly residing in Africa, in the last two years.
The new goal of the foundation, according to the CEO, is to reach one million girls by 2026, and the subsequent cohorts will be operating on this reviewed system and a new goal.
Although hosting the program has come with a high degree of GRIT, resilience, and sacrifice from so many people, one thing that stands out is the foundation’s vision to raise self-sufficient women. “What we do is beyond tech. It is about African women and girls having their own money. It is about them becoming self-sufficient,” she said