The Federal Government has intensified its efforts to close Nigeria's digital gender divide by empowering over 3,700 girls through the 2026 National Girls in ICT Competition. This nationwide initiative aims to build a stronger pipeline of female tech innovators across the country.
Grand Finale at Presidential Villa
The programme, driven by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, reached its climax on Friday with a grand finale and a celebratory dinner at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, joined as the Special Guest of Honour.
The initiative, now in its fourth edition, drew participation from girls across all six geopolitical zones. Regional teams advanced through stages of training, mentoring, and innovation challenges focused on real-world problems in healthcare, education, agriculture, accessibility, and public service delivery.
First Lady's Remarks
Addressing the participants, the First Lady commended the girls for their ingenuity, describing them as active contributors to national development rather than passive beneficiaries. She said, "I applaud the innovation and creativity displayed by our girls. Your solutions remind us that young people are not merely beneficiaries of change; they are key drivers of change."
The First Lady urged the participants to remain confident in their abilities and continue to harness technology for societal impact. She noted that initiatives such as the Code Clubs programme reflect a broader national commitment to digital inclusion and youth empowerment.
Minister's Perspective
In his remarks, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, said the scale of participation demonstrated that talent is widely distributed across the country and only needs opportunity to thrive. He noted, "Tonight has reminded us of something very important; talent is everywhere in Nigeria and opportunity must be provided everywhere too. We have seen creativity, confidence, innovation, and problem-solving from all regions of the country."
He added that empowering girls in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics remained central to Nigeria's ambition of building a competitive digital economy, stressing that inclusion was both a moral and economic necessity.
Competition Highlights
The competition's grand finale, held earlier at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Annex in Abuja, featured presentations from six regional finalist teams before a panel of judges drawn from government, industry, academia, and the innovation ecosystem.
At the end of the contest, Hands that Speak from the Special Education Centre in Bauchi State, representing the North East, emerged as the overall winner with SignCare. This is a digital health accessibility platform designed to improve communication between deaf patients and healthcare providers.
Other Top Performers
- Team Divas from Cross River State (South South) placed second.
- Team Resonance from Abia State (South East) came third.
- Team FarmShield 360 from Kano State (North West) finished fourth.
- Team Tech Expert from the Federal Capital Territory (North Central) placed fifth.
- Team Elite from Osun State (South West) came sixth.
Stakeholder Support
Goodwill messages were delivered by key digital economy stakeholders, including Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi from the National Information Technology Development Agency, Jane Egerton-Idehen from NIGCOMSAT, and Tola Odeyemi from the Nigerian Postal Service. All of them encouraged the participants to deepen their engagement in STEM fields.
They praised the participants for their creativity and urged sustained investment in youth innovation as a pathway to national development.
Broader Impact
The initiative, according to organisers, is part of broader efforts to bridge the gender gap in technology, strengthen digital literacy, and ensure that young girls are not left behind in Nigeria's ongoing digital transformation agenda.
