NGO Pushes Digital Inclusion For Girls, Expands Tech Fellowship To 15 States

The KSH Foundation has reaffirmed its commitment to closing Nigeria’s gender gap in technology with the expansion of its Every Girl Fellowship, a programme aimed at equipping young women with digital, entrepreneurial and leadership skills.

The foundation disclosed that the third edition of the initiative, Every Girl 3.0, received more than 400 applications from across the country, with successful candidates selected from 15 states following a rigorous merit-based process.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony in Abuja, the Founder of the KSH Foundation, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, said the fellowship was established to ensure that talented young women are not left behind in Nigeria’s rapidly evolving digital economy.

He noted that what began as a modest initiative has grown into a national platform that is empowering young women to pursue careers in technology and innovation.

“We wanted to build something that would outlive trends and headlines. Today, the vision has grown beyond what we imagined because more partners and communities now believe in what Every Girl stands for,” Halilu said.

According to him, this year’s fellowship has been expanded to include training in emerging fields such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Women’s Health Technology (FemTech) to better prepare participants for future opportunities.

“Artificial intelligence will define the future of work and innovation. We want our girls to be among those building that future rather than watching it happen,” he added.

Halilu explained that beyond technical training, the fellowship offers mentorship, entrepreneurship support, exposure visits and access to digital tools, enabling participants to transform acquired knowledge into sustainable ventures.

“Our goal is to create opportunities for girls who ordinarily would not have access to these experiences. We are providing mentorship, technology, equipment and networks that can transform their future,” he said.

He also urged beneficiaries to become ambassadors of the programme by sharing the knowledge and skills gained with other girls in their communities.

Project Coordinator of the Every Girl Fellowship, Farida Yahya, said the selection process was carefully designed to promote fairness, inclusiveness and excellence.

She explained that applicants first completed a virtual learning phase before submitting project ideas and video presentations, which were evaluated by independent reviewers.

“We deliberately ensured that girls from different regions of the country had equal opportunities to participate. Beyond inclusion, merit remained our guiding principle throughout the selection process,” Yahya said.

She added that the fellowship seeks to nurture confident young women who can leverage technology to solve community challenges while creating employment opportunities.

Also speaking, the Director of Operations and Rescue at the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), Dr. Alero Ajekuta, described the initiative as a strategic investment in the future of Nigerian girls.

She stressed the need to equip women with practical skills that position them as innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders.

“The world has changed. Women’s education no longer ends in the kitchen; it extends to the boardroom. When women are empowered with the right skills, they become role models and catalysts for positive change,” she said.

Some of the fellows shared how the programme had transformed their perspectives on technology and innovation.

One participant, Jonas Chinewa Princess Anne, said the fellowship provided her with hands-on training in digital content creation, entrepreneurship and no-code application development.

“I am leaving with confidence, new ideas and the determination to use technology to create solutions that will benefit my community,” she said.

Another fellow, Hafsa Ibrahim-Berndi, a medical student, said the programme inspired her to explore innovative solutions to healthcare challenges through technology.

She expressed confidence that the knowledge acquired would enable her to develop impactful projects while encouraging more girls to embrace careers in technology.

Established in 2022, the KSH Foundation focuses on empowering underserved women and young people through education, technology and entrepreneurship, with the broader goal of expanding economic opportunities and promoting inclusive development across Africa.