QUEST SCHOOLS’ HOPE AND QCODE PROGRAM COLLABORATE WITH TECH4DEV

Hands-on computer literacy program (HOPE) and QCODE, two of Quest Schools’ flagship educational technology initiatives, recently collaborated with a cohort of TECH4DEV for a TECH DRIVE advocacy program— an outreach targeted to raise awareness for female inclusion in technology-based careers. Targeting two Quest affiliate schools in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria—Urban Day and Olaogun Schools—TECH4DEV’s cohort group 133, set of 2024, alongside Quest Schools’ edutech resource persons, organized a joint advocacy program to foster the inclusion of young women in technology. This program, coinciding with International Women's Day, identified the need to break the barriers that young women, particularly in underserved communities, face in terms of access to technology literacy and career mentorship for the girl child.

Insights from the engagement of our outreach personnel and TECH4DEV representatives on gender equality and the girl child’s prospect in technology detailed a profound mentorship session, and a career in tech talk: access and inclusion of females in technology-related careers through profiling of notable female technopreneurs. The program also identified and supported the needs of aspiring young female pupils, looking to make significant waves in the technological space, through bespoke opportunities that provide them access to computer literacy, and academic and career mentorship, among other perks.

The girl child for a very long time has been underrepresented in mainstream industries like technology, finance, and agriculture, to mention a few.

“Companies that emphasize equity and inclusion, however, are making inroads when it comes to promoting the careers of women — and retaining them.” Sarah K White (2024). 

It is important that access and inclusion of females in technology is advocated strongly enough to foster workplace environments that are devoid of gender underrepresentation, marginalization and inequity, as these have informed the lack of diversity, labour retention and increased organization performance in major IT sectors, in recent times.

According to the Women in Tech Stats 2024, “The majority of countries have seen an increase in female labour participation over the last decade, with emerging economies leading the way. However, progress has been slower in advanced economies due to a combination of varying economic policies and fewer incentives for women to return to work”. The situation in Nigeria is not atypical. Only 22% of engineering and technology university graduates in Nigeria are female— a very concerning statistic.

Given this level of gender underrepresentation, the advocacy for inclusion of females in tech is poignant, and, more so, a necessity to ensure that the future corporate work environment is safe from divergent factors limiting the potential of females in mainstream technological industries.

With such grassroots advocacy programs as TECH DRIVE conducted by HOPE and Tech4dev, we can bridge the gap in access and inclusion of females in technology-related careers. The future of the girl child is bright and can be made brighter with systems that help optimize their potential holistically. With the staggering impacts of entrepreneurs like Funke Opeke of Main One, Seun Runsewe of Chippercash, and Odunayo Eweniyi of Piggyvest, among others, there is nothing limiting the growth of aspiring young girls in technology-related careers, or is there?

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