Over 1,500 girls and women graduated from the second cohort of Women In Tech Nigeria's 2023 Makeathon, addressing the gender skill gap.

Women in Tech Nigeria 2023 Makeathon was sponsored by the VFD Group, a groundbreaking project intended at encouraging girls and women to pursue jobs in technology-related fields.

Following the inaugural edition, which graduated 1,000 beneficiaries, this achievement represents a huge step forward in fostering gender diversity and inclusivity in Nigeria's tech industry.

Fellows in the cohort have completed a series of intense and free capacity-building and digital literacy activities in Product Design, Product Management, Digital Marketing, and Data Analytics, as well as diverse hands-on training, to help them establish successful careers in technology.

Solape Akinpelu, country director of Women in Tech Nigeria, said: 'The graduation of 1,500 girls and women from the Women in Tech Nigeria 2023 Makeathon is a significant milestone in our mission to bridge the gender gap in technology. These graduates' drive and passion are absolutely inspirational. We feel they are well-positioned to have a significant effect in the technology industry and contribute to Nigeria's technical advancement."

"The Makeathon is part of our goal to increase the participation of women in the tech industry," said Gbenga Omolokun, managing director of VBank. "According to a World Economic Forum survey, women make up only 28% of the global workforce in technology. The gender disparity in the tech business is considerably greater in Nigeria, where women account for only 22% of the workforce."