Nigeria Launches Campus Tech Queens for Women in IT

Nigerian women are getting a powerful new pathway into the tech industry, and it starts on college campuses.

The Nigerian Women in Information Technology just launched the Campus Tech Queens Initiative, a nationwide program designed to prepare female students for careers in technology. The program officially kicked off Wednesday at Kogi State Polytechnic in Lokoja, bringing together government officials, tech leaders, and eager students ready to break into the digital economy.

Dr. Oluwakemi Ayodele, president of the organizing group, says the initiative tackles the gender gap head-on. "The digital economy needs your voice, your creativity, and your brilliance," she told students at the launch.

The program runs through six stages that take participants from campus registration all the way to post-competition incubation. Students will receive training, connect with mentors, develop ideas, compete in state-level hackathons, and attend a national grand finale before entering leadership development.

Two levels of government are already backing the initiative. Dr. Helen Aderibigbe, Kogi's Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, didn't just offer words of support. She committed her ministry to partnership, promising to expand broadband access and drive technological advancement for young people across the state.

The education ministry also pledged support, with officials reaffirming the government's commitment to girl-child education and empowerment initiatives.

The Ripple Effect

The impact is already visible in students like Rachel Ojo from Federal University Lokoja and Damilola Akere from Kogi Polytechnic. Both called the program "top-notch" after participating in early sessions.

Ojo says she learned valuable skills that can change lives and plans to encourage other women to join. Akere appreciated how the program taught participants to be bold and courageous in tech spaces where women are often underrepresented.

The Nigeria Computer Society's Kogi chapter is also on board. Chairman Godwin Sani called the program "timely, strategic, and visionary," noting it provides structured pathways for women to grow, compete, collaborate, and lead in an industry that desperately needs diverse voices.

Nigeria's tech sector is booming, but women remain underrepresented in key roles. Programs like Campus Tech Queens are building the pipeline of female talent the industry needs to truly thrive.