More than 150 women and girls in Edo State have finished a six-day digital literacy course designed to equip them with practical technology skills for better career prospects and business growth. The programme, run by She Code Africa in partnership with HP and backed by the Edo State ICT Agency and Girl Leads Project, drew women from various backgrounds and age groups.
Oreoluwa Adetula, programme manager at She Code Africa, spoke at the closing ceremony about the organisation's mission to empower women and girls across Africa with digital skills. She explained that the course was deliberately crafted to be beginner-friendly and practical, allowing participants to move from basic computer use to more advanced tools.
"The goal of the programme is to meet women where they are and provide them with the necessary skills for today's digital workspace," she said. "We want women and girls to understand productivity tools, communication platforms, and digital resources that can support their careers and businesses."
Adetula noted that training covered Google Workspace, Microsoft Office applications, Excel, Google Sheets, Google Slides, internet safety, Google Meet, digital communication, and calendar management. The course was designed for people at different life stages, from students preparing for jobs to entrepreneurs looking to digitalise their operations.
Deborah Ukparah, operations associate at She Code Africa, noted that the programme proved eye-opening as older women participated despite the target being primarily women aged 16 to 35. "We realised that learning has no age limit," she told reporters.
"We saw women above 35 and even above 40 who were eager to gain digital knowledge and improve their computer skills."
Ukparah added that while roughly 200 participants took part in the current cohort, many more women still need access to such opportunities. The strong turnout highlighted growing demand for digital literacy among women outside typical target groups, she said.
Participants praised the initiative for boosting their digital confidence and practical knowledge. Ugbewey Evelyne said the training exposed her to opportunities she hadn't anticipated initially.
"I thought I was only coming to learn presentations and PowerPoint, but I discovered many more things that can support my career and personal development," she said.
Ukana Augusta expressed gratitude to facilitators and highlighted lessons on internet safety and information management. Other beneficiaries noted they gained practical skills including organising online meetings, using spreadsheets, managing digital calendars, and protecting personal information on public devices.
