Tech4Dev Welcomes Over 2000 Beneficiaries Into its Women Techsters Fellowship Class of 2024

The Women Techsters Fellowship Class of 2024 now includes a total of 14 women and girls. The program, a project of the Technology for Social Change and Development Initiative (Tech4Dev), aims to reduce the gender gap in technology and the digital world.

The Women Techsters Fellowship, now in its third year, offers young women and girls from 22 African countries a year of tuition-free, hands-on technology study and upskilling. A six-month period of intensive instruction is followed by a six-month internship period in this program, which is designed to be a thorough learning experience.

The Women Techsters Fellowship provides training in a wide range of technological specialties that are in great demand, such as Blockchain, Mixed Reality/3D, Product Design, Software Development, Cybersecurity, and Data Science/ Artificial Intelligence Engineering. After completing the intermediate curriculum, graduates should be prepared to pursue entry-level technical positions.

In total, 2014 beneficiaries were accepted into the program from 35 different African nations. More than 40 nations from the continent submitted multiple bids to the initiative, which was originally intended for 22 African nations.

With 1669 admitted beneficiaries, Nigeria tops the list of nations with the most beneficiaries, followed by Kenya with 119. There were 59 beneficiaries admitted from Ghana, 35 from Uganda, 25 from South Africa, 17 from Ethiopia, 15 from Egypt, 9 from Zimbabwe, 9 from Cameroon, and 8 each from Zambia and Tanzania.

The Women Techsters Fellowship, according to Joel Ogunsola, founder and president of Tech4Dev, is an investment in the continent’s economic future in addition to addressing the gender gap in the ICT sector.

“Our goal is to close the digital divide in a way that is both inclusive and sustainable. The Women Techsters Fellowship serves as evidence of our dedication. We are not simply empowering people when we give young girls and women from impoverished communities access to cutting-edge tech education; we are also investing in the future of the entire continent.

“We think that sustainability and inclusion are the pillars of growth. This initiative is a step in the direction of a more egalitarian ICT sector, a prosperous Africa, and a better future for everybody.

“At Tech4Dev, we’re motivated by the belief that technology can be a powerful force for social change and inclusivity,” said Oladiwura Oladepo, Executive Director of Tech4Dev. This idea is embodied by the Women Techsters Fellowship, which reaches out to girls from impoverished communities all throughout Africa while also teaching them useful technical skills. The growing interest in this program demonstrates our dedication to long-term sustainability in closing the gender gap in technology.

We take pride in giving young women from many regions and backgrounds the chance to pursue professions in technology. By doing this, we not only give these ladies greater power but also promote gender equality and diversity in the ICT sector, ultimately paving the way for a more prosperous and inclusive future for Africa.

“We are equipping African women with the knowledge and abilities to take advantage of good employment prospects in the workplace of the future, as well as the necessary abilities and support systems for any woman to launch and grow technology firms. Equipping women with digital and life skills that promote economic prosperity, financial freedom, and sustainable development is what gets us closer to achieving our vision.

The Women Techsters Fellowship is an essential step toward gender equality in the computer industry and equips women and girls with useful technical skills. The growing number of participants and the significant results the program continues to produce show how committed Tech4Dev is to closing the gender gap and creating diversity within the technology sector.

Lillian Bernard, the president of Microsoft for Africa, also urged the women to seize this excellent opportunity to advance their careers in the computer sector.

TechCity Studios, a well-known tech media company, served as the event’s media partner, and Smallchops NG sponsored the cuisine.