Microsoft Africa Development Center (ADC) and Microsoft Leap have partnered with the Nigeria Association of Computing Students (NACOS) to support the Gender Equality Participation in Information Technology (GEPICT 2023) conference, which took place from January 26th to 28th, 2023 at the Bells University of Technology in Ota, Ogun State. The conference aimed to promote gender equality in the information technology space in Nigeria and bridge the digital gap in the country.
100 female undergraduate students from various tertiary institutions in Nigeria were given the opportunity to access the latest technology and training through a one-day Learn-athon-Learning-Marathon event. The students collaborated and improved their software engineering knowledge by solving real-world challenges, with hands-on training and mentorship provided by some of the brightest female minds in technology.
Empowering women in technology is key to driving innovation and progress in Africa
Oluwasefunmi Wande-Durojaye, Head of Ecosystem and Development at Microsoft ADC
At Microsoft, the company is on a mission to empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more, and this requires finding and developing great talent that represents diverse communities and cultures. By partnering with NACOS, Microsoft shared its commitment to empowering women in technology and provided the female students with a wealth of experience and expertise. The training program also offered a unique opportunity for attendees to network with technology professionals and learn from their experiences.
Empowering women in technology is key to driving innovation and progress in Africa, according to Oluwasefunmi Wande-Durojaye, Head of Ecosystem and Development at Microsoft ADC. The partnership between Microsoft ADC, Microsoft Leap, and NACOS helped bridge the gender gap in technology and provide women with the skills and support they need to succeed.
Following the training, the participants were given a project task to build REST API endpoints for a book library. They were provided with endpoints and mock data to input in their database, and were required to submit their code to the Microsoft ADC GitHub page for review by mentors. Upon submission of the project, participants will be issued a badge for their participation.
In conclusion, the partnership between Microsoft ADC, Microsoft Leap, and NACOS was a huge success, providing female students with access to the latest technology and training, equipping them with the skills they need to succeed in the ever-growing tech industry. The training program offered a unique opportunity for attendees to network with technology professionals and learn from their experiences, and the project task provided a practical application of their newly acquired skills. Microsoft remains committed to empowering women in technology and providing them with the tools they need to succeed.
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