By Progress Godfrey

ABUJA—She Code Africa, in collaboration with HP, has trained more than 300 women in Abuja, in a move aimed at narrowing Nigeria’s growing digital gender gap and improving access to technology-based opportunities.

Speaking during the closing ceremony of the programme in Abuja, Communications and Digital Campaigns Manager at She Code Africa, Winie Bright, said the initiative seeks to provide underserved women with foundational digital knowledge while opening pathways to more advanced tech training.

According to her, “The six-day programme, held from March 11 to 19 in Kubwa, a densely populated suburb of the Federal Capital Territory, targeted young women aged 16 to 35, many of whom had little or no prior exposure to computers.”

She explained that the training centred on core digital competencies, addressing a major barrier limiting women’s progression into higher-level technology roles, while also forming part of a broader strategy to develop a pipeline for advanced digital training and foster inclusive economic participation. Participants were taught practical skills including basic computer operations, internet navigation, and the use of mobile devices for everyday activities.

In her words, “The Abuja cohort follows an earlier phase in Ibadan, Oyo State, where more than 200 women were trained. With both phases completed, She Code Africa is nearing its target of equipping 600 women nationwide with essential digital skills. The curriculum also covered practical applications such as online job searches, digital communication, and the creation of professional profiles.”

Beneficiaries, many of whom are small business owners and women in the informal sector, are expected to apply the skills gained to grow their businesses using digital platforms such as social media and messaging applications.

Mercy Bubai, a business owner who attended the training with her daughter, described the programme as timely and transformative, noting that it has improved her ability to market her business to both local and international audiences.

“I now understand how to make my business more visible to my target market,” she said, adding that the shared learning experience with her daughter made the programme more impactful.

Bubai also urged stakeholders to improve access to digital tools such as laptops and computers to help participants effectively utilise the skills acquired.

Her daughter, Joy Daniel, said the training strengthened her confidence in using digital tools, especially in preparation for computer-based examinations.

“I’ve learned how to use both my phone and a computer for different tasks, and that will help me going forward,” she said.

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