By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
The Federal Government of
Nigeria has celebrated the winners and participants of the 2026 National Girls
in ICT Competition at a special dinner held at the State House, Presidential
Villa, in Abuja.
The event brought together
outstanding participants from across the country and marked the conclusion of a
week-long programme focused on innovation, technology and digital skills
development among young Nigerian girls.
Nigeria's First Lady,
Senator Oluremi Tinubu, served as the Special Guest of Honour and engaged with
participants during the event. Officials said her presence underscored the
government's commitment to supporting young women pursuing careers in science,
technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Minister of Communications,
Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, said the competition
showcased the creativity, innovation and potential of young girls from across
Nigeria. He noted that more than 3,700 girls from the country's 36 states and
the Federal Capital Territory participated in this year's programme, with 111
emerging as national winners.
According to the minister,
the competition serves as one of the government's flagship initiatives for
expanding inclusion and encouraging greater participation of girls and young
women in the technology sector.
Dr. Tijani emphasized the
importance of creating opportunities for young people to learn, innovate and
lead, noting that investments in girls contribute to stronger communities, a
more inclusive digital economy and long-term national development.
He also acknowledged the
contributions of teachers, mentors and the project team from the Federal
Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy for their role in
delivering the programme.
The minister further
expressed appreciation to partners and sponsors supporting the initiative,
including the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the National
Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the Nigerian Postal Service
(NIPOST), and other stakeholders committed to advancing digital skills and
innovation among young Nigerians.
The National Girls in ICT
Competition forms part of broader efforts to ensure that opportunities created
through Nigeria's digital transformation agenda are accessible to young people
regardless of gender or geographic location.
Officials said the programme
continues to play a key role in developing the next generation of innovators
and technology leaders who will contribute to Nigeria's digital economy and
Africa's growing technology ecosystem.
