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From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
The Girl-Woman Initiative for Sustainability and Education (GWISE) has held its third annual girls’ empowerment conference in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
The event, which was themed “Harnessing leadership potential in girls through digital technology,” targeted young girls between 13 and 21. Over 300 participants from 15 secondary schools and post-secondary institutions in Owerri and environs attended the event.
The programme director, Engr. Chibuikem Diala, pointed out that GWISE was in Owerri to empower young women so they can take their rightful place in the scheme of things, being that women have a key role to play in solving most of the problems bedevilling society.
Addressing the participants and guests, the executive director of GWISE Initiative, Mrs. Nikky Nkeiruka Nzekwe, outlined the core objective of the organization as “to significantly support girls and women to reach their highest potential through all-round qualitative education, inspiration and empowerment, so they can become more effective in their God- given roles as future mothers and leaders.”
She enumerated the thematic areas of GWISE to include: Girls’ education and growth, leadership and inspiration, health and wellness, empowerment, poverty eradication, mentoring and entrepreneurship, as well as moral and social development.
Speaking further, the executive director informed the audience that the conference was an inter-generational platform designed to bring together girls of diverse backgrounds with professionals and role models, with a view to ignite, inspire and support the next generation of females to maximize their potential and become leaders and agents of change in their families and society.
On behalf of the team and volunteers of the organization, she expressed appreciation to all sponsors, collaborators, volunteers and partners of the 2023 girls’ empowerment conference.
In her speech, the keynote speaker, Hon. Justice Alma Eluwa, pointed out that technology has permeated every sphere and facet of life such that it has become compulsory for every girl/woman to embrace it in order to adapt to current realities. She stressed that the gap between opportunities for men and women has in past few years reduced considerably, yet emphasized the need for more to be done toward attaining the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Number 5, which is to “achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.”
While affirming to the participants the need to take advantage of the opportunities digital technology has provided to increase their knowledge, learn new skills and connect and interact with people of similar positive ideology, she also cautioned against unguarded/irresponsible use of digital technology. She charged the girls to not just aim at having good role models but to also work toward becoming good role models to others.
The 2023 GWISE girls’ empowerment was in collaboration with SAGE Nigeria. In an address presented on behalf of the chairman, Mr. Agwu Amogu, he affirmed his organization’s continued commitment to the promotion of technology-based entrepreneurship among the youth.
The event, which featured guest speeches, interactive sessions, tech projects competitions, quiz competitions, cultural displays, awards and prizes as well as other dynamic performances, had in attendance dignitaries who graced the occasion in support of girls.
During the presentation of winning tech projects by the finalists of the TechSHERO pre-conference competition organized by SAGE Nigeria, in collaboration with GWISE, the SIFED Tech Team of Marist Bicentenary College, Ngor Okpala, Imo State, emerged winner after an impressive showcase of their “community finance project,” an online crowd funding platform with a mission to help people living with disabilities to start and grow micro-enterprises.
The project is set to solve the huge problem of lack of start-up capital experienced by people living with disabilities as well as preserve their dignity as they stay off the streets as beggars. Their counterpart, Team Pearlville of Pearlville Secondary School Avu, Owerri, Imo State, emerged the second with their “virtual science system project,” a web-based platform to enable students who do not have standard science laboratories in their schools to access standard practical classes, in line with federal government’s school’s curriculum. The project will make it possible for users to view, access and learn from previously uploaded practical classes. Both the first and second-place winners went away with prizes and scholarships, courtesy of SAGE Nigeria.
The prizes and scholarship opportunities, which were extended to 40 students from both schools (20 per school), included web development/Python course, entrepreneurship and finance literacy course, one-year mentorship, incubation opportunity for any member of both teams who is ready to start a business as well as scholarship opportunity to study at Cyprus International University.
Another high-point of the conference was the keenly contested GWISE quiz, which featured mathematics, basic communication and technology-based questions. Miss Orji Chizara, a UB 3 student of Marist Bicentenary College, Ngor Okpala emerged the first prize winner, while Miss Okedimma Joy Esther of Methodist High School, Ikenegbu, Owerri took the second position. Miss Anebunwa, Favour Munachimso also of Marist Bicentenary College, Ngor Okpala came third.
While the first and second placed winners went home with brand new HP laptops each, from GWISE, courtesy of Prof. M.K Okorie, the third place winner bagged a three-month scholarship to the GWISE Tech. Academy to study a tech. skill of her choice.
The executive director of GWISE used the opportunity of the conference to announce plans to set up GWISE Leadership Clubs in schools to further strengthen the organization’s efforts toward imparting leadership and social skills as well as mentorship to more young girls.
Dignatries who graced the event include Hon. Justice K.A Ojiako, Hon. Justice A. Eluwa, Hon. Justice S. Opara, Hon. Justice K. Leweanya, Hon. Justice Ijeoma Obichere, Hon. Justice V. Onyeka, officials of Imo State Branch of FIDA, directors/heads of schools, officials of government agencies and representatives of some non-governmental organizations.
