In Nigeria’s fast‑evolving digital space, young African women are learning to code and crafting a compelling narrative—one that puts them at the forefront of technological change. The TechMinds Girls Empowerment Foundation, established in 2024, is quietly reshaping the tech landscape by focusing on an essential yet often overlooked group, particularly women. In its first year, the foundation hasn’t just delivered coding classes; it has sparked confidence, agency, and a sense of ownership over the future.
TMG Empower’s model is noteworthy not simply for the technical skills it imparts, but for how it begins with something deeper: the mindset. “If a girl doesn’t believe she belongs in tech, no amount of training will help her thrive,” says the founder and Executive Director, Ndidiamaka Udeaja.
This kind of introspective start is rare—but increasingly vital in a continent that has so much untapped digital potential, yet where barriers for women in tech remain high.
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Code for the Future: Mindset First, Then the Machine
What sets TMG Empower apart is its emphasis on a dual‑track of hard tech skills and soft, foundational work. The programme launches not with algorithms, but with conversations: discussions on belonging, identity, confidence and culture before any code is written. As Udeaja explains, the “mindset re‑engineering” component is a vital precursor to learning AI, data science or cybersecurity.
Once that ground is prepared, the foundation’s flagship initiatives like Tech Her Up and Power Skill Booster, dive into both technical proficiency and leadership or entrepreneurial capabilities. It’s a holistic approach: the girls learn to code, yes—but are also equipped to lead, invent and challenge systems.
On the ground, this approach is yielding tangible outcomes. Take the story of Onyekwere Nmesoma Chiamaka, formerly a nurse, who pivoted into data analytics with skills in Excel and Power BI through the programme. Today, she sees herself as a data‑confident leader. Then there’s Bishe Sulei Yerima, who translated her tech training into publishing an e‑book—proof that the journey from tech user to creator is a very real possibility when support is purposeful.
TMG Empower’s work speaks to a larger continental challenge: how to shift women from the margins of tech (as consumers or occasional participants) to the centre (as creators, CEOs and thought‑leaders).
Infrastructure, Advocacy and Scaling for Impact
Beyond the New Code for the Future curriculum and mindset, TMG Empower has backed its ambitions with concrete investments and systemic advocacy. To mark year one, the foundation awarded university scholarships and donated ten desktop computers to a secondary school in Anambra State, helping bridge the infrastructure gap.
Simultaneously, the organisation is engaging in policy work: supporting legislative efforts that aim to protect and promote women’s participation in Nigeria’s tech industry. The endgame is clear—sustainable change rather than one‑off interventions.
As the foundation enters its second year, it’s doubling down on collaboration. Schools, tech companies and development agencies are invited to partner—whether through mentoring, internship opportunities, sponsorship or curriculum co‑creation. In this way, TMG Empower is not just intervening in individual lives but helping build an ecosystem.
The vision is audacious: a generation of African girls who don’t merely use technology, but invent it—and in doing so, transform their families, communities and the wider economy. “When you empower a girl with technology… you transform families, communities, and economies,” Udeaja says.
Why This Matters – For Nigeria, Africa and the Global Tech Story
In many African countries—including Nigeria—women remain under‑represented in tech. By focusing on girls, TMG Empower is tackling both gender inequality and the continent’s digital skills gap at once. Consider this: if the global tech industry is to reflect the world it serves, then populations that are often excluded cannot continue to be left behind.
Nigeria, with its booming young population, presents a unique opportunity. When you unlock the potential of girl coders, you don’t just open doors for individuals—you open new pathways for innovation, job creation and social transformation. The foundation’s approach signals a shift from reactive training programmes to proactive ecosystem building: infrastructure, mindset, advocacy, and partnerships.
From a broader perspective, Africa’s tech story is frequently told in terms of users and markets, but less so in terms of creators and leaders emerging locally. By equipping girls to code, lead and build tech companies, TMG Empower is rewriting that story—one that centres African agency, talent and future‑facing vision.
For Nigeria in particular, this kind of intervention resonates with national development goals around digitisation and youth empowerment. It’s also aligned with what many analysts call inclusive growth—ensuring that as the digital economy expands, it does so in ways that benefit women and communities historically marginalised.
What This Means for You—If You’re a Girl, Parent, Educator or Employer
If you’re a young girl passionate about technology, this story sends a clear message: there are programmes now in your region that believe in you, and that want to invest in your future from the mindset up. It means your interest in tech can be matched by opportunity, not just promise.
If you’re a parent or educator, it’s a reminder that talent can thrive when given the right environment—confidence, infrastructure and exposure matter just as much as curriculum. Encouraging girls to engage with these programmes can open entirely new career trajectories.
And if you’re an employer or tech company in Nigeria or across Africa, this signifies an expanding talent pool—women who come into tech not as token hires but as skilled, self‑assured contributors who can lead, innovate and transform.
Conclusion
In a continent rich with digital promise yet burdened by systemic exclusion, the work of the TechMinds Girls Empowerment Foundation is a hopeful beacon. By starting with the internal narrative of belonging, equipping girls with real tech and leadership skills, and investing in infrastructure and policy, they are cultivating change not just in individuals—but in the broader tech ecosystem. As the saying goes, you don’t just teach a girl to code—you teach her to imagine, build and lead.
With this kind of effort, the future of tech in Africa begins to look more inclusive, more grounded in local talent and more reflective of the continent’s diversity. And as these girls step into roles as creators and innovators, they will be writing Africa’s tech story—one line of code at a time.
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