The GetBundi Education Foundation has introduced a digital skills programme that offers a 250,000 dollars scholarship fund for women.
The programme, tagged, “TechSis 2025”, is expected to train 1,500 African women in Data Analytics and Cybersecurity – completely free of charge.
A statement by Mr Osita Oparaugo, Founder of Getbundi, a digital education platform, indicated that TechSis, currently in its third edition, is designed to empower young African women with the digital competencies needed to thrive in the global tech industry.
He said that application forms were available and urged upcoming women to apply for an opportunity to participate in the programme.
“The fully virtual, intensive four-month training programme is open to women of African descent between the ages of 19 and 40, regardless of location, who are committed to transitioning into the tech sector.
“Building on the success and insights from TechSis 2023 and 2024, we are scaling our efforts to meet the growing demand for digital inclusion,” Oparaugo said.
He said that the goal was to equip African women with the digital skills they need to drive innovation and economic empowerment across the continent.
“The TechSis initiative was launched in 2023 as a bold response to the digital gender divide in Africa.
“In its inaugural year, 500 women were trained in coding. By 2024, the programme scaled up to train 1,000 women in web development and data analytics.
“With TechSis 2025, GetBundi aims to deliver high-impact, future-proof training to 1,500 more women, targeting two of the most in-demand digital fields globally.
“Digital exclusion disproportionately affects women across Africa; through TechSis, we are not only offering skills, but creating pathways for women to enter and lead in tech, shape innovation, and contribute to a more inclusive digital economy,” he said.
He explained that courses offered – Data Analytics and Cybersecurity – would run fully online via live classes, self-paced modules, hands-on projects, examinations and certification.
Urging applicants to visit www.getbundi.com, he explained that TechSis initiative is part of the GetBundi Education Foundation’s broader mission to provide accessible, high-quality STEM digital skills training to African learners.
“As the Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) arm of GetBundi Education Technology, the foundation is dedicated to promoting equity, inclusion and opportunity through technology education,” he said.
The innovative edtech platform offers STEM education to post-primary school students, digital literacy training, and digital skills development to adult learners across Africa. (NAN)
A Report Women! Female Reporters Leadership Programme (FRLP) Fellow, Aisha Gambo, on Thursday trained Mass Communication students at the Kaduna State University (KASU) on Solutions Journalism (SOJO).
The training is part of a leadership project conducted by Report Women!FRLP fellows, with support from the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ).
Gambo, who is also a Senior Correspondent with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), stated that the training was aimed at equipping the students with practical knowledge and skills on SOJO.
” We are not just training these students, we will encourage them to start identifying responses in their communities and reporting them.
“There are lots of opportunities in the field of Journalism especially Solutions Journalism; we will be sharing these opportunities with them to make them more competent,” she said.
While speaking, Mr Nathaniel Bivan , a Solutions Journalist, who presented a slide on ‘Finding and Reporting Excellent Solution Stories”, said students of mass communications should start writing these stories while in school.
He explained that a good solutions story must contain the four pillars of SOJO: Response, evidence, insight and limitation, adding that the students should aim at writing stories that make impact.
Another speaker, Yahuza Bawage who started practising journalism at school, urged mass communications students to start writing early so as to build a portfolio that would attract opportunities for them when they leave school.
He urged the students to form a union for campus journalists which would serve as a platform for them as students-journalists, adding that it would help them secure opportunities for capacity building and career development.
Some of the students, who participated in the training commended the organiser, saying that the session was eye-opening.
Amina Abdulkadir said she was hearing solutions journalism for the first time, adding that the training had helped her understand the concept and how to properly write SOJO stories.
Another participant, Usman Hassan, who is also a 400-level student, said he would step down the training to his colleagues in the Department and was ready to start writing SOJO stories.(NAN) (wwwnannews.ng)
Prof. Maria Ofure, a Literature Professor at Federal University Lokoja (FUL), has called on women to engage more actively in literary writing to help transform society and gain importance.
She made the appeal during the university’s 27th Inaugural Lecture titled “Navigating a Room of Her Own: Women’s Writing, Dynamics of Culture and the Politics of Identity,” on Thursday in Lokoja.
Ofure explained that creating “a room of her own” for women was not just about having physical or economic space to write, but also about claiming cultural, intellectual, and emotional space in a world that often ignored or limited them.
“The room we seek is not just a private place, but a space to speak out against traditions and norms that hold us back, whether on a stage, in a classroom, or in parliament.
“It is a space to act and bring change.
“Women writers and scholars should write to reclaim their rights and demand equal opportunities with men,” she said.
She added that African women writers today were not only asking for space but were actively shaping it with stories that crossed time, language, and cultures.
“Women are taking centre stage, showing their full creative potential.”
Ofure described literature as both a mirror and a tool for change, reflecting real life and reshaping society’s views.
She also noted the new chances women had through social media, blogs, and self-publishing to share their stories outside traditional limits.
“While these platforms have risks like online harassment, they also offer powerful ways to connect and influence culture.”
The professor said that literature had helped to bring important issues like abortion rights, gender-based violence, and queer rights into public discussion.
Ofure also lauded groups like Writivism, Femrite, and the African Women’s Development Fund for supporting women writers and building lasting communities for growth.
Earlier, FUL Vice-Chancellor Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi described the lecture as very timely and important.
He said it would help Nigerians better understand how women used writing to express themselves and challenge traditions.
He congratulated Ofure on delivering a lecture of great value. (NAN)
The Women Affairs Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Wednesday, mobilised residents of the territory to support the girl child during menstrual period.
The Mandate Secretary, Dr Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, made the call in Abuja, at an event organised to commemorate the 2025 World Menstrual Hygiene Day.
Benjamins-Laniyi called on residents to support the Administration quest to make the FCT period-friendly.
According to her, it is time to prioritise educating the girl child on biological makeup which should not be a hindrance to accessing quality education.
She said that the Nyesom Wike-led FCT Administration was already prioritising the development of the girl-child through impactful education, psycho-social interventions.
She added the FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud was equally mobilising relevant stakeholders to ensure the optimal development of the girl-child in the FCT.
“When you come across a girl with menstrual stains, please do not mock or shame her, support her the best you can,” she pleaded.
The mandate secretary described the theme, “Together for a Period Friendly World”, as “a call to action” for everyone to ensure that menstruation did not limit girls’ access to education, healthcare and other opportunities.
She said WAS would continue to partner with non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders to ensure that schoolgirls had access to sanitary resources.
She identified some of the resources as menstrual pads, towels, deodorants, body Sprays and other materials that would make girls confident during their monthly flow.
Benjamins-Laniyi also called on school administrators and managers to ensure adequate supply of water, stressing that a lot of girls stayed away from school during their monthly flow due to lack of water.
“Girls need resources that will make them comfortable during their menstrual period.
“They also need a conducive environment to change and dispose of used sanitary pads,” she said. (NAN)
Women Affairs Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has engaged the wives of traditional rulers to change negative social norms and other forms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) across the territory.
The Mandate Secretary of the secretariat, Dr Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, disclosed this during a meeting with the Wives of FCT Traditional Rulers Association (WOFCTTRA), in Abuja.
Benjamins-Laniyi described the initiative as a “unique model” of community engagement for collective action towards ending violence against children, women and girls, and other forms of GBV.
She added that WOFCTTRA, with representatives from the 17 chiefdoms across the six area councils of the FCT would serve as a reference point and a formidable force in community sensitisation and mobilisation.
The secretary said that the WOFCTTRA would be engaged through the FCT women affairs secretariat’s Community Engagement Department.
According to her, this is a co-creation initiative by the women affair secretariat to strengthen community engagement and participation in the design and implementation of FCTA programmes and policies.
“WOFCTTRA will serve as a strong platform for the design and implementation of government programmes and policies at local government level down to the communities and the grassroots.
“The platform will particularly play critical roles in implementing programmes and policies of the FCTA towards strengthening child protection and ending sexual and gender-based violence at community level.”
Mr Ibrahim Nurudeen, Programme Officer on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, UN Women Country Office, described the initiative as “laudable”.
According to him, engaging the wives of the traditional leaders aligns with the UN Women’s priority on engaging traditional authority in transforming social norms and addressing the root causes of GBV in communities.
Nurudeen noted that the WOFCTTRA would serve as a reference group and provides an opportunity to deepen UN Women male engagement on ending GBV.
He said that the initiative would enlarge UN Women engagement with women participating meaningfully by bringing their perspectives on how harmful social norms and practices could be transformed and made better for everyone.
“This is a model that should be replicated across the country because it is going to be lending credence to amplifying the voices of women in the work that the UN development partners, Civil Society Organisations and government agencies are doing towards addressing GBV in Nigeria,” he said.
The President of the group, Hajiya Hauwa Adamu, thanked Benjamins-Laniyi for giving them a platform and a voice in matters that affects women, adolescents and girls in the FCT.
Adamu, the wife of the Ona of Abaji, Chairman, Council of Traditional Rulers in the FCT, said that wives of the traditional leaders have been confined within their houses and do not come out.
“We are virtually not seen or heard, until now; we have been left behind the doors in our homes, receiving instructions from our husbands.
“Our homes also serve as safe spaces for lost children, battered wives and abused girls and children who later return home without us having a say in the outcome of the incidents.
“In most cases, such incidents are swept under the carpet under the guise of not shaming relations and neighbours who perpetuate the act,” she said.
She explained that the wives came together, joint forces to say that perpetuators of GBV, who left survivors emotionally and psychologically broken should not go unpunished.
She described Benjamins-Laniyi’s support and inclusion of the group in governance processes as “life changing”.
“She has brought us in, empowered us, improved our capacity and linked us up with other government agencies and development partners.
“This has significantly given us a voice in the ongoing fight against violence against women and girls and all forms of GBV in the FCT, particularly at community level,” Adamu added. (NAN)
The Oniru of Iru, Oba Abdulwasiu Lawal Abisogun II, on Tuesday urged men to treat women as equals and not as property.
He made the call during Nigeria’s 3rd Men-Only Townhall Meeting, held at Oniru Palace, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event’s theme was: ‘Strengthening Family and Community Bonds: The Role of Men in Protecting Women and Girls’.
Community leaders, religious figures, and professionals attended the event to explore ways to promote cultural accountability and shared responsibility.
“Men must stop viewing women as possessions. Women deserve equal rights, voices, and aspirations,” Oba Lawal said.
He further urged men to challenge all forms of abuse and create safe, supportive spaces for women.
In his opening remarks, Lawal highlighted the weight of fatherhood and the need for men to continue learning.
He stressed the important role religious leaders play in protecting women and girls through education and advocacy.
He pledged Iru community’s support for such programmes, including financial backing for future initiatives.
Chief Abayomi Daramola, Balogun of Iru and Chairman of the meeting, addressed Nigeria’s parenting challenges.
He emphasised a father’s key role in shaping children’s values and character within the home.
Keynote Speaker, Mr Balogun Murtala, called on men to raise empathetic sons and reject the marginalisation of women.
“Men must foster environments where women can thrive and express themselves freely,” he said.
He called for communities to spread messages of care and responsibility towards women and girls.
Sheikh Abulabeebah, Chief Imam and Director at Daaru-Sa’aadah Islamic Centre, stressed early education on marriage and equality for boys.
He urged men to commit fully to protecting and caring for women and girls.
Mr Olamilekan Adewale, a Pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, spoke on love and accountability.
He advised men to lead by example and raise children with solid moral foundations.
The Ashipa of Odi Olowo community, Mr Deji Oluwalonimi, said many African problems begin at home.
He urged traditional and royal institutions to confront these issues directly and openly.
NAN reports that the meeting stressed teaching boys cultural values that promote respect for women.
Financial responsibility remains a key role for men, as traditional providers in families.
Participants agreed that caring for women and girls is a duty, not a choice, for all institutions. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
In a bold boost for women entrepreneurship in Nigeria, Dangote Cement Plc has empowered businesswomen in host communities in Benue with cash grants, thus deepening business activities in the State.
The women empowerment programme came months after the Dangote Cement in Gboko increased bursary payments to students of host communities by more than 100 per cent.
Mr Wakeel Olayiwola, Group Head, Social Performance, Dangote Cement Plc, disclosed this at the ceremony on Wednesday in Gboko.
“Through this scheme, selected women entrepreneurs in host communities will receive ₦100,000 grants each to strengthen and expand their businesses.
“The financial support aims to boost local enterprise development at the grassroots level, empowering female business owners with capital to scale their operations.
‘’Each beneficiary will use the funds to address specific business needs, from purchasing inventory to upgrading equipment, creating tangible economic impact in their communities.”
Olayiwola said that the empowerment would boost ability to invest in their families’ education, health, and well-being as well as break the cycle of poverty and enable positive change in their communities.
He said the programme would also enable the women to generate more income to reduce over-reliance on their husbands.
He said the money is a grant and would not be paid back to the Dangote Cement.
Olayiwola said traditional leaders of Quarry, Tse-Kucha, Amua, Mbazembe, Mbatur and Pass Brothers host communities, as well as the Dangote Community Consultative Committee were involved in the selection of beneficiaries.
He said the company would monitor progress of the women entrepreneurs and evaluate how the money is being invested.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Dangote Cement Plc and six host communities signed a historic Community Development Agreement (CDA) in 2024.
The acting Plant Director, Munusamy Murugan, said the empowerment would be an annual event.
Murugan, who was represented by Tavershima Soom, said that other economic empowerment programmes lined up include farmers programme and youth skill acquisition programme.
In his remarks, Head of the Social Performance, Gboko Plant, Johnson Kor, said that the company would continue to support members of the communities, urging them to be good ambassadors of the Dangote Cement Plc.
Ruth Tser, a beneficiary, said she would invest the money in her cassava farming business, while commending the company for the support.
Similarly, Mrs Vishigh Msurshiona, pledged to use the money to grow her trade in commodities.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
The Women Affairs Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has begun processes toward the domestication and implementation of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018.
The Mandate Secretary of the secretariat, Dr Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, disclosed this at a three-day workshop on rights-based approach to disability-inclusive development, government and public policy.
The workshop was organised in collaboration with the World Bank for management staff and stakeholders across all sectors and sections of the FCT.
Benjamins-Laniyi added that the workshop was also organised to develop the needed strategy toward establishment of FCT Disability Commission to ensure full implementation of the Act.
She described the Act as a legislation that aimed to protect the rights of persons with disabilities and promote their inclusion in all aspects of society.
According to her, the domestication and implementation of the Act in FCT are crucial steps towards creating a more inclusive and accessible environment for persons with disabilities.
“This workshop is designed to equip us with the essential technical knowledge, skills, and orientation necessary for the effective domestication and implementation of the Act.
“I am confident that the discussions and deliberations over the next three days will provide valuable insights and practical solutions to the challenges we face in promoting disability inclusion.”
The pioneer mandate secretary said she had always been passionate about promoting the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities.
She said that the establishment of Disability Desk served as a testament to her commitment to disability inclusion and support.
“This desk is dedicated to ensuring that the needs of women and children with disabilities are addressed and that they have equal access to opportunities and services,” she said.
Benjamins-Laniyi thanked the World Bank for the continued support in promoting the rights of persons with disabilities.
She assured of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s commitment to protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, which he described as another capital project deserving due attention.
“Let us work together to ensure that the FCT becomes a model for disability inclusion and accessibility, and that persons with disabilities are empowered to reach their full potential.
“Nothing about persons with disabilities without them. We cannot make any decision that affects them without them being present,” she added.
Hadjia Majida Adamu, Special Assistant to the FCT Minister of State, and Coordinator, Social Investment Programme, commended Benjamins-Laniyi for the bold step.
Adamu said that the workshop reflected a critical step towards fostering an inclusive, equitable, and rights-based society where every individual, regardless of physical ability, was given equal opportunity to thrive.
According to her, the step represents FCT’s commitment to dismantling barriers and ensuring that persons with disabilities are fully integrated into all aspects of our social, economic, and governance structures.
Mr Rex Irame, a legal practitioner and Chairman Albinism Association of Nigeria, FCT Chapter, stressed the need to pay more attention on implementation of the disability Act.
Irame said, “if we don’t take the issue of implementation seriously, then it takes away the beauty of the Act”.
Responding, Dr Adebukola Adebayo, Disability Inclusion Consultant, World Bank, expressed optimism that the Act would be fully implemented considering the divergent stakeholders and government agencies that were brought onboard.
“The FCTA has done the needful by ensuring that every institution of government and critical stakeholders were carried along.
“This has broadened the base for the implementation of the disability policy in the FCT.
“Everybody is going to work with the commission, with support from the world bank and other stakeholders to ensure that the law is not just on paper, but fully implemented,” he said.
Adedayo said that the bank would provide technical assistance to the Women Affairs Secretariat to develop the FCT Disability Policy.
He added that the world bank would also support the FCT to establish its disability commission as well as to develop and strengthen inter-agency collaborative mechanisms.
This, he said, would enable the FCT to fully implement the disability policy in line with the national disability Act. (NAN)
The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs (FMoWA) has partnered with Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF), an NGO, to enhance Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) healthcare services for survivors nationwide.
The partnership was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on Tuesday in Abuja.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, highlighted WARIF’s expertise in establishing and operating Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs).
“The initiative aims to provide survivors with immediate access to professional, compassionate, and comprehensive care.
“The partnership will focus on capacity building for healthcare providers, case managers, and frontline responders, as well as drive policy reforms, survivor-centered service delivery, and nationwide awareness on SGBV.”
Sulaiman-Ibrahim emphasised that strong partnerships were crucial in creating systemic change to address SGBV.
Dr Kemi DaSilva-Ibru, Founder and President of WARIF, reiterated their commitment to bringing expertise to the partnership, particularly through its health pillar and pioneering work in establishing SARCs.
The WARIF founder added that he partnership aimed to reduce SGBV cases and ensure survivors had access to healthcare services to cope with trauma.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Former Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, has called on Nigeria’s political parties to amend their constitutions and mandatorily allocate 50 per cent of appointments and elective positions to women.
Tallen made the appeal while delivering a keynote address at a two-day capacity-building conference organised by the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) and Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) on Wednesday in Abuja.
Speaking on the conference theme: “Breaking the Barriers and Shaping Positive Attitudes Towards Inclusive Politics in Nigeria,” she suggested the adoption of “Zebra Policy or 50-50” pairing of male and females.
Tallen also suggested that President Bola Tinubu, as a former governor, senator and pro-democracy activist, should lead the charge for gender inclusion, stressing that his leadership can make a defining difference.
She also urged the First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, to leverage her position, influence and experience as a four-time former senator to champion the cause of women mainstreaming in Nigerian politics.
Tallen, a former Deputy Governor of Plateau and one-time Minister of State, Science and Technology, described women as the bedrock and the spice of every successful electioneering campaigns or political movement.
According to her, women demonstrate unmatched dedication, organisational capacity, and persuasive skill, and their involvement is crucial in mobilising communities and building personal connections with voters.
She, however, said women’s participation in politics was often inhibited by some deeply rooted gender biases and barriers in Nigeria’s societal norms, cultural beliefs, and institutional structures.
Tallen defined gender barriers in politics as the obstacles that disproportionately hinder women from equal participation and representation in politics.
According to her, such challenges are rooted in socio-cultural norms and institutional structures, adding that overcoming them requires comprehensive, strategic, and multi-dimensional approaches.
She, therefore, urged all political parties to strategically integrate women into them because they often bring a unique and essential energy to campaigns, and make the difference between success and failure.
“One solution I recommend is for all political parties to immediately amend their constitutions to create special seats for women.
“As we approach the 2027 general elections, parties should mandate the allocation of at least 50 per cent of appointments and elective positions to women, what is popularly known as the Zebra Policy or 50/50 pairing of male and female candidates.
“Since political parties are foundational to governance and policy direction, it is they who must address religious and cultural norms that inhibit women’s involvement. Party constitutions must be deliberately reformed to drive gender equality and inclusive participation,” she said.
Participants at the event
She said such reforms require commitment from all genders across political divides, including lawmakers, civil society, and the electorate, stressing that such collaboration would trigger unprecedented levels of female participation.
“Politics is, ultimately, a game of numbers. With a population of over 200 million people, about half of whom are women, it is strategically essential to fully integrate women into our political system.
“Neglecting them amounts to sidelining a substantial portion of our national potential, with dire consequences. Gender biases are the barriers inhibiting the advancement of women in politics.
“As the Giant of Africa, Nigeria must lead the way in gender mainstreaming and dismantling gender bias in politics. We must urgently remove the formidable barriers to women’s political participation,” she said.
She decried the fact that Nigeria was faring far worse globally, with only 4.2 per cent of its National Assembly members being women, placing her among the bottom five countries in the world.
The former minister noted that, while Rwanda was leading globally, with women occupying 64 per cent of parliamentary seats, Nigeria has just 17 women out of 360 House of Reps, and 4 out of 109 senators.
Tallen, therefore, called for immediate action, stressing that government must enforce existing gender policies, and consider the 35 per affirmative action for an upward review to 50 per cent.
“To overcome this, we must disabuse the electorate’s minds of such biases and promote women’s inclusion through persistent advocacy, especially in party leadership, elections, and appointments.
“We must also promote the UN’s Gender Equality’s Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5), which envisions a world free from discrimination and supports women’s full participation in all areas of leadership.
“Nigeria should learn from countries that have achieved 50 per cent female representation and foster international partnerships that promote peace, security, and gender inclusion,” she said.
Earlier, the Director-General of NIPSS, Prof. Ayo Omotayo, reaffirmed the Institute’s role as a neutral platform for vital national dialogue.
He noted that women’s political participation were central to Nigeria’s democratic progress, yet female representation in leadership remained low, undermining both equity and effective governance.
Also speaking, IPAC National Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, acknowledged women’s vital contributions and their efforts in addressing digital challenges.
He said that while issues like discrimination and under-representation persisted, they were not insurmountable. (NAN)
Edited by Mark Longyen
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