According to a study by the National Girls Collaborative Project, girls who receive mentorship are more likely to pursue careers in STEM. Unfortunately, there is still a low percentage of women in STEM fields in sub-Saharan Africa because young girls need more encouragement. If this does not change, the World Economic Forum says women will remain in jobs likely to be replaced by technology, be paid less, or be less economically impactful. Naomi Bamgbose, a 19-year-old Tech Enthusiast, embodies this sentiment with her co-founder, Sumayah Adegbite.
“Sumayah Adegbite and I met on Twitter. We always attended hackathons together, and every time we attended an all-female hackathon, we always sought teenage girls in tech. Still, to our disappointment, we hardly found them because almost all our teenage friends in tech were male.” – Naomi Bamgbose- Co-founder The Girls Techie.
That was when the two teenage girls started brainstorming what they could do to close the gender gap in STEM, especially in Africa, which brought about The Girls Techie.
Traditionally, the tech field has been perceived as male-dominated, with women making up only about 28% of the global tech workforce and just 30% in sub-Saharan Africa, as reported by UNESCO. However, Naomi’s efforts are challenging these stereotypes.
The Girls Techie is a nonprofit student-run, all-female organisation that empowers, connects, and inspires young girls in STEM. It is a groundbreaking community established in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic to empower young girls to explore careers in technology. The pandemic underscored the need for remote learning and support for aspiring tech enthusiasts, and this motivated tthen-15-year-oldBamgbose to create this platform.
The two girls inspire, support, and show Girls across Africa that they belong in the tech world. Their brand, The Girls Techie, mentors, trains, and provides resources that help these girls build confidence in their tech abilities.
The Girls Techie at its core
Founded in 2020, The Girls Techie aims to break down stereotypes and provide young girls with the tools and support they need to thrive in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Through workshops, coding camps, training, and outreach events, they empower girls to pursue technology and innovation without fearing judgment or isolation.
Since its inception, the platform has supported over 1,000 girls in tech across Africa. Its ambitious goal is to connect with 10,000 more girls by 2025. The not-for-profit also connects girls with experienced professionals and peers in the tech field so they can collaborate and share knowledge. As more girls enter the tech field, they bring fresh perspectives and ideas, leading to greater creativity and problem-solving within the industry.
The co-founders envision a future where The Girls Techie continues to expand its impact, reaching even more girls across Africa and beyond. Naomi and Sumayah aim to create a sustainable model that provides technical skills and nurtures participants’ leadership qualities. They believe empowering girls to become technology leaders is essential for creating a balanced and innovative industry.
These teenage girls, Naomi Bamgbose and Sumayah Adegbite are set to prove that the change we all seek in STEM is possible and already happening!
