No fewer than 120 female university students have acquired digital and artificial intelligence (AI) skills following the successful conclusion of the two-day SISI in Tech programme organised by Adeola Azeez Community Care.

The initiative, which focused on digital literacy, artificial intelligence, mentorship, networking and hands-on learning, brought together female students from tertiary institutions to prepare them for opportunities in Nigeria’s fast-growing digital economy.

Speaking at the closing ceremony on Wednesday, the founder of Adeola Azeez Community Care and convener of SISI in Tech, Adeola Azeez, said the programme was designed to bridge the technology skills gap among female undergraduates, particularly those in their penultimate and final years.

She disclosed that the initiative was originally planned for about 50 participants drawn from a university, a polytechnic and a college of health and allied sciences, but was expanded to accommodate about 150 beneficiaries after additional funding was secured.

According to Azeez, the programme was inspired by the growing number of female graduates struggling to secure employment because they lack the digital and technology skills increasingly demanded by employers.

“Almost every day, I receive messages from young female graduates seeking employment. Many are not employable, not because they lack degrees, but because they lack the technology skills employers now require,” she said.

She stressed that digital technology and artificial intelligence have become essential across virtually every profession, urging young people to embrace continuous learning.

“You cannot be a graduate in today’s world without embracing technology. You can hardly do anything today without understanding how to use AI tools,” she added.

To ensure sustained learning beyond the training, Azeez announced that all registered participants would receive free access to an MTN learning platform, where they can continue developing their skills, interact with other learners and remain connected to the SISI in Tech community.

On the possibility of extending the initiative to male participants, she revealed that plans were underway to introduce a Boys in Tech programme through strategic partnerships with other organisations.

Also speaking, a member of the SISI in Tech team, Lolade Morakinyo, said the programme was created to encourage more young women to explore careers in technology and understand the vast opportunities available within the AI ecosystem.

She noted that many people wrongly associate artificial intelligence solely with platforms such as ChatGPT and Gemini, whereas AI offers diverse career opportunities across multiple sectors.

Morakinyo explained that the objective was not necessarily to produce AI specialists but to equip participants with practical digital skills that would make them more competitive in today’s labour market.

“AI itself will not replace anyone. Instead, people who know how to use AI effectively will have an advantage over those who don’t,” she said.

One of the programme facilitators, Moremi Adeleye, assured participants that support would continue after the training through a dedicated community that would provide mentorship, networking opportunities and continuous digital skills development.

She added that Adeola Azeez Community Care runs several initiatives aimed at promoting youth development, entrepreneurship, digital innovation and community impact.

As part of the closing activities, participants were grouped into teams and assigned practical projects to showcase the knowledge acquired during the two-day programme.

The teams presented innovative solutions before a panel of judges, with the top-performing groups receiving cash prizes. The winning team received ₦200,000, while the first and second runners-up were awarded ₦150,000 and ₦100,000 respectively in recognition of their creativity, teamwork and practical application of the skills gained during the training.

The organisers expressed optimism that SISI in Tech would continue to equip more young women with the digital and AI competencies needed to thrive in Nigeria’s rapidly evolving technology ecosystem.