In today’s fast-changing digital world, technology plays a vital role in shaping our future. However, it is evident that a significant gender gap still exists in the tech industry. At the iKapture Centre for Development, we are committed to closing that gap by empowering young girls with the skills and confidence to become tomorrow’s tech leaders. The Technovation Girls Challenge is one of the key initiatives making a real difference in the lives of young girls in Nigeria and beyond.
What is the Technovation Girls Challenge?
The Technovation Girls Challenge is an empowering program that invites young girls between the ages of 8 and 18 to step into the world of tech entrepreneurship. Through this challenge, girls learn how to code mobile apps that solve real-world problems in their communities. With the guidance of volunteer mentors, educators, and parents, participants work in teams to brainstorm, design, and develop innovative solutions, gaining invaluable skills in the process.
Our Journey in 2023/2024
Our journey for the 2023/2024 Technovation Girls Challenge kicked off in Calabar in November 2023. The iKapture-Technovation team set out with a clear goal: to reach as many young girls as possible and inspire them to take part in this transformative experience.
We began by visiting schools across Calabar, where we engaged students, teachers, and administrators, sharing the vision of Technovation. We also extended our reach to Uyo through online platforms, ensuring that no potential participant was left out.
Thanks to the overwhelming support from schools and mentors, we successfully visited 34 schools in Calabar, including:
- Brotherhood Model College (BROMCO)
- Government Technical College (GTC)
- Calabar Preparatory International School (CPIS)
- Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAANS) Secondary School
- Federal Government Girls College (FGGC)
- Special Education Centre…and many more.
From these schools, over 250 girls eagerly signed up to participate, forming 51 teams dedicated to tackling pressing issues in their communities through technology.
The iKapture Technovation Team conducted an extensive recruitment drive, reaching 34 schools in Calabar and enrolling over 740 participants across South-South Nigeria. This region recorded the highest enrolment for the 2024 Technovation season in Nigeria. We recruited around 40 mentors who were instrumental in guiding the girls through their projects. We also established Technovation clubs in schools to provide ongoing support and a collaborative environment. Furthermore, we organized three launch workshops, 13 Code-Girls Meet-Ups, and a successful Regional Pitch Event with over to 300 attendees. These events provided participants with hands-on experience, boosting their confidence and skills.
This season has been nothing short of remarkable.
Launch Workshops
The journey began with our first Technovation launch workshop at Brotherhood Model College (BROMCO) in Calabar South.
The event was honored by a representative from Government Technical College, Mayne Avenue, who expressed her excitement about her school’s participation in this year’s competition. She highlighted how the program provides a platform for young girls to showcase their ideas and solve community problems using technology.
In line with our commitment to inclusion, the event at American Corner was interpreted in sign language, enabling hearing-impaired students from the Special Education Centre to fully benefit from the program. We also successfully organized a Technovation launch workshop in Uyo.
The impact of the Technovation Girls Challenge is best captured in the words of our participants, mentors, and parents. One of our girls from BROMCO shared how the program helped her overcome stage fright and boosted her confidence in public speaking:
“Being part of the Technovation Challenge has been an awesome journey. From finding teammates to building my app and overcoming the fear of speaking before a crowd, it has been a series of challenges and growth. Twice, I felt like giving up, but my parents, friends, and mentors kept me going.”
Other participants also highlighted how the program helped them learn the importance of teamwork and how to handle setbacks:
“I met new people and learned so much. The experience was great; the event was well-planned, and I learned the importance of teamwork.” — Participant from EEN.
“Technovation was an avenue for me to overcome stage fright, develop my mobile app, and write a business plan. It was awesome!” — Participant from BROMCO.
Code-Girls Meet-Ups: Building the Future of Tech
As part of the Technovation Girls Challenge, we held 13 Code-Girls Meet-Ups between February and April 2024, bringing together up to 80 attendees per session. These meet-ups provided hands-on training and a collaborative environment where girls could work on their projects with mentors. To ensure inclusivity, the program was also translated into sign language for auditory-challenged participants.
The meet-ups were a learning experience for both mentors and participants. As one mentor from HOCSS noted:
“Now, I understand how the MIT App works. It looks very easy to use. I will look into it again to help explain it to my teams.”
A participant from UCIDSS shared:
“The MIT App Inventor is interesting to use. We will be coming over to iKapture to use the PCs and familiarize ourselves with other features of the app to build our mobile app.”
2024 South-South Nigeria Technovation Regional Pitch Event (RPE)
The grand finale of our season was the 2024 South-South Nigeria Technovation Regional Pitch Event (RPE), held on May 17-18, 2024. This event brought together over 300 attendees and 39 teams from Calabar and Uyo. Dignitaries from various organizations, including the Cross River State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency (CRSMEDA) and PSP Analytics, were in attendance to witness the creative solutions presented by our young tech leaders.
After rigorous judging by Esteemed judges, Justina Ovat, Oyo Effiom, Elizabeth Ita, Patrick Ndifon and Iradat Bisola, five teams emerged as winners across the beginner, junior, and senior categories:
- Beginner Category: Stars24 (from BrainyHive Schools, Uyo) and Technolies (from the Unical International Demonstration Secondary School, Calabar)
- Junior Category: Sunshine Girls (from the Margaret Ekpo Secondary School, Calabar)
- Senior Category: Techie Girls (from Special Education Centre, Calabar) and Tech Titans (from the Children of Promise Christian Schools, Calabar)
The event concluded with an award presentation, including scholarships for the winners to pursue training in Data Analysis and Data Science, sponsored by PSP Analytics, Calabar and Early Founders Lab, Uyo.
The RPE left a lasting impression on participants and attendees alike. As a mentor from Christan Schools shared:
“This is a very educative program. Though my team is debuting in the competition, we will come out stronger in the next season of Technovation.”
A representative from PSP remarked:
“We have been working hard to ensure that females embrace technology just as their male counterparts. How Technovation and iKapture bring this about—by engaging girls while they are still young—is remarkable. We love the work done; keep it up!”
Impact and Testimonials
The impact of the Technovation Girls Challenge on these young participants has been profound. The program has not only enhanced their technical skills but has also empowered them to overcome challenges and believe in their abilities.
One participant from BROMCO shared, “Being part of the Technovation Challenge has been an awesome and great journey. There are a lot of challenges I encountered from the beginning. Finding teammates, building my app, and also lacking the courage to speak even before a small crowd of people. Twice, I felt like giving up but my parent, friends, and mentors kept me going.”
Another participant expressed, “Technovation was very interesting. I was able to overcome stage fright, develop my mobile app, and write a business plan. It was an avenue for me to learn new skills and mentor girls towards being builders of technology.”
A student from Special Education with hearing impairment, using sign language, stated: ” Thanks to Technovation and to the mentors for giving us this opportunity to let the world hear our voices. Now, we have a better foundation to improve on our digital skills further.”
These testimonials highlight the life-changing experiences the girls have had, from learning how to code gaining the confidence to present their ideas on a public stage.
Looking Ahead
The 2024 Technovation Girls Challenge in South-South Nigeria has been a tremendous success, but our work does not stop here. We’re already looking forward to the 2025 season, where we aim to reach even more girls, expand our partnerships, and continue to inspire the next generation of female tech entrepreneurs.
At iKapture Centre for Development, we believe that every girl has the potential to change the world with technology. Through the Technovation Girls Challenge, we are empowering girls to become the leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers of tomorrow.
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