By Mariam Alabi
When Simi* was 15, she built a local language translator, an application that converts indigenous languages into English and vice versa. Proud of her achievement, she eagerly shared it with her school community, expecting curiosity and praise. Instead, she was met with doubt.
Some classmates and even teachers dismissed her work, insisting that it was not something “a girl could build from scratch”. In that moment, Simi realised the problem was not her innovation, but her identity.
As the world observes Girls in ICT Day every fourth Thursday of April, Simi’s story reflects the lived reality of many girls navigating a technology space still shaped by gender bias.
Determined to prove them wrong, she chose not to retreat but to persist. Today, she is a software engineer at one of Nigeria’s technology firms, part of the less than 20 per cent of women in the country’s tech workforce; a figure that remains below the global average.
Simi’s experience is far from isolated.
Across Nigeria, girls who show interest in technology often encounter resistance from multiple fronts. At home, many are steered towards traditionally “feminine” careers such as nursing or teaching among others. In rural communities, the barriers are even steeper, where access to basic education is already a challenge, let alone digital tools.
Even after overcoming these hurdles, many women face difficulties entering the workforce as cultural expectations persist, suggesting that careers in tech leave little room for family life.
Research indicates that a staggering 72 per cent of women in tech have experienced exclusion, bias, or harassment, with half of women technologists reporting racial harassment. Such toxic environments, according to a study by Isaac Maafo, published in the April 2025 edition of the Global Scientific Journal, not only impede daily work and well-being but are major drivers of attrition, pushing women out of the industry and discouraging future talent.
In 2024, female-led startups in the African tech ecosystem received just 2 per cent of total tech funding ($48 million) while male CEOs secured nearly $2.2 billion.
Girls in ICT Day, an initiative of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), seeks to change this narrative by celebrating girls in technology and encouraging more to explore careers in ICT.
This year’s celebration is themed, ‘AI For Development: Girls shaping the digital future.’
What data says
A youth survey report issued by the National Bureau of Statistics indicates that in Nigeria young men are almost twice as likely to have a career in computer science and technology-related fields as women.
The data also shows that women make up on average just 22 per cent of the total number of Engineering and Technology university graduates each year while they make up roughly a fifth of the total number of people working in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector.
Data further indicate that the ratio of male to female workers in ICT is 4:1.
According to Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (WTEC), the disparity starts much earlier when female enrollment in technology and engineering courses of Nigerian higher institutions is lower than men’s, meaning that men are shaping the technology being developed, while women are largely passive users.
Women redefining Nigeria’s ICT space
Despite the barriers many girls face, some Nigerian women are not just participating in ICT, they are redefining it.
The founder of MainOne, Funke Opeke, transformed internet access in West Africa after identifying Nigeria’s connectivity gap. In 2008, she led the development of a 7,000-kilometre privately owned undersea cable linking Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire to Portugal, significantly improving broadband access across the region.
She went on to build one of Africa’s leading connectivity companies, launching a Tier III data centre in 2015 and expanding services to Cameroon.
Odunayo Eweniyi is another woman reshaping how Nigerians manage money. As Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of PiggyVest, she has helped drive digital savings and investment among millions since 2016. She also co-founded the Feminist Coalition, extending her impact beyond fintech into civic advocacy.
Adaora Nwodo is a senior software engineer and founder of NexaScale, a social enterprise helping early-career technologists gain real-world experience through simulated remote projects A graduate of Computer Science from the University of Lagos, she has built a career in cloud infrastructure while writing books and speaking globally about tech inclusion. Her content demystifies complex tech concepts, empowering girls to build digital skills with confidence.
Also, Chioma Agwuegbo, founder of TechHerNG, has spent years advocating for women’s digital literacy and access to technology. Her platform trains and mentors women in digital communication, helping them use tech to advance their businesses and voices.
In health technology, Temie Giwa-Tubosun founded LifeBank, which uses GPS-enabled systems to deliver blood, oxygen and other critical supplies to hospitals. Inspired by gaps in emergency care, her work has earned global recognition, including a place on the BBC’s 100 most inspiring women list.
Similarly, in the public sector, Omobola Johnson expanded Nigeria’s digital landscape as the country’s first Minister of Communication Technology, helping to significantly increase internet access. She also championed initiatives such as the Digital Girls Club and the 1,000 ICT Girls training programme.
Across engineering, finance, healthcare and public service among others, these women are excelling and transforming the tech ecosystem, building opportunities, and proving that gender is no limitation to innovation.
As the world celebrates the International Day of the Girl Child, their stories reinforce a clear lesson that when girls are given access and support, they do more than succeed, they lead, innovate, and transform industries.
In commemoration of the day globally, stakeholders say the focus must move beyond celebration to sustained action through inclusive policies, investment in girls’ education, and deliberate efforts to close the gender gap in technology.
Future of AI must include women and girls
In a video message, the ITU Secretary-General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, described the present moment as a defining turning point in human history.
“We are currently living through the most significant and exciting technological transformation in human history,” she said, noting that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already reshaping how people work, learn and communicate, while offering solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
Building on this transformation, she explained that quantum information technologies are set to further expand these possibilities. Despite this progress, the benefits remain unevenly distributed.
According to her, women account for just 35 per cent of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) graduates globally, and their representation in the AI workforce stands at about 25 per cent.
For Bogdan-Martin, these disparities are more than statistics; they are a clear call to action. She stressed that urgent steps must be taken to correct the imbalance, warning that AI systems inevitably reflect the perspectives of their creators. Drawing from only half of humanity’s creativity, ingenuity and talent, she argued, means leaving vast potential untapped.
It is against this backdrop that this year’s theme, ‘AI for Development: Girls Shaping the Digital Future’, takes on deeper significance. According to her, it is not just a statement of intent but a rallying call for inclusive participation in shaping emerging technologies.
Turning directly to young girls, she delivered a message of inclusion and encouragement; they belong in every corner of the tech ecosystem from AI to quantum technologies and cybersecurity. Their ideas and leadership, she emphasised, are essential to building the future.
At the same time, she challenged policymakers, educators and industry leaders to recognise the weight of their decisions, noting that choices around access, education and mentorship will ultimately determine whether AI serves everyone or only a select few.
Reaffirming the organisation’s commitment, she added, “At the ITU, we are dedicated to ensuring that technology works for everyone.”
She urged stakeholders to mark the 15th anniversary of Girls in ICT Day with deliberate action to ensure that every girl can take her rightful place in shaping the digital future.
Empowering girls to create, not just consume
Echoing these sentiments, the Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) at the ITU, Cosmas Zavazava, highlighted the strong link between technology and development. He noted that the urgency of encouraging girls to take up leadership roles in the tech sector has never been greater.
Describing the day as more than symbolic, Mr Zavazava said it serves as a powerful platform to inspire girls and young women to pursue education and careers in information and communication technology. He highlighted the immense potential of millions of girls worldwide to emerge as the next generation of innovators, leaders and entrepreneurs.
However, he also pointed to the persistent gender digital divide, observing that women remain underrepresented in STEM fields, while limited internet access continues to restrict opportunities for many. Despite these challenges, he maintained that connecting girls to digital tools can be transformative, enabling them to access information, secure employment and even build businesses, ultimately contributing to a more equitable and prosperous society.
“This day,” he said, “is about more than just using technology; it is about creating it.”
Against this backdrop, Mr Zavazava stressed the need to actively challenge stereotypes and expand opportunities for girls to acquire digital skills. Whether through robotics workshops, coding mentorship or boot camps, he argued that equipping girls with practical tools is essential to preparing them as architects of the digital world.
He also drew inspiration from history, referencing pioneering figures such as Ada Lovelace alongside modern-day trailblazers who have broken barriers in technology. Their achievements, he noted, provide a foundation upon which the next generation can build.
Reflecting on the milestone of 15 years, he added that the movement has already made a significant impact, inspiring hundreds of thousands of girls and young women, over 450,000 globally to pursue studies and careers in STEM as well as in the ICT sector.
Looking ahead, Mr Zavazava called on governments, educators, industry leaders and communities to take deliberate steps to sustain the momentum, which includes showcasing female role models, expanding access to digital education and ensuring safe online spaces where girls can learn, explore and connect without fear.
Editorial Note: The name marked with an asterisk (*) is a pseudonym.
