Kwara State Launches ‘Girls Code Kwara’ Initiative to Boost Female Participation in Technology
Kwara State Government has introduced a groundbreaking initiative called ‘Girls Code Kwara,’ aiming to achieve 60% female participation in technology. This program is designed to enhance digital literacy and empower young girls across the state, marking a significant step toward gender equality in the tech sector.
The initiative was officially announced during the Kwara Futures Exhibition 2025, which served as the grand finale of the state’s Coding and Digital Literacy Programme held in Ilorin. The event was themed ‘Kwara Futures: Empowering a Digitally Ready Generation,’ highlighting the state’s commitment to fostering innovation and technological advancement.
Organized by the Office of the Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital Innovation, Hon. Kayode Ishola, the exhibition showcased the achievements of students who have benefited from the program. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq emphasized that the initiative would be expanded to 100 schools and 10,000 students by mid-2026. This expansion is part of broader efforts to position Kwara as a global hub for innovation and digital technology.
“我们的行政团队坚定不移地致力于将夸拉转变为技术卓越的灯塔，并赋予我们的年轻人引领数字革命的能力。” said the Governor. “通过投资基础设施和创造支持性生态系统，我们正在为年轻夸兰人提供将大胆想法转化为全球现实的工具。”
The Girls Code Kwara scheme was specifically designed to close the gender gap in technology and inspire more girls to pursue careers in science, innovation, and digital development. The Governor added, “年轻的科技人才，你们的愿景是我们蓝图。我们将确保夸拉不仅出现在地图上，而且重新定义它作为明天解决方案的全球中心。未来已经到来，而它属于夸拉。”
Governor AbdulRazaq also urged private partners, investors, and development agencies to support the state’s digital transformation drive. He described the young innovators as the “face of Kwara’s future in the knowledge economy.”
Innovations Shown at the Exhibition
At the exhibition, ten schools presented innovative projects such as:
- Smart School Attendance System
- Universal Report Card Generator
- Weather Forecast Application
- Python-Based Banking Simulation
- Igbaja Farm Expense Tracker (IFET) App
United Junior Secondary School, Ilorin, emerged as the overall winner with a cash prize of N1 million, while Ilorin Grammar School won N500,000 as first runner-up, and Government Girls’ Day Secondary School, Pakata, received N250,000 as second runner-up.
Bridging the Digital Divide
Hon. Kayode Ishola, speaking earlier, stated that the program was designed to bridge the digital divide, empower young minds, and prepare them for global opportunities in a technology-driven world. He noted that between August 2024 and October 2025, the initiative trained 5,604 students across 50 public secondary schools in all 16 local government areas of the state, engaging 120 instructors including NYSC members, digital volunteers, and ICT teachers.
“Our journey so far has demonstrated that digital literacy is no longer optional. It is the new basic literacy. This initiative, by reach and scale, now stands as the largest state-led digital literacy programme for schools in Nigeria,” said Ishola.
He highlighted several student projects that have gained national attention, such as the learning app for the visually impaired developed by girls at Bishop Smith Memorial College, Ilorin, and the AgriTech Mini Dashboard created by Ajase-Ipo students.
Education and Human Capital Development
Dr Lawal Olohungbebe, Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, emphasized the government’s sustained investment in education, which has significantly improved learning outcomes in the state. He mentioned that under this administration, the budget provision for education has increased from about five per cent to around fourteen per cent.
“The coding and digital literacy programme was designed to equip students with the skills needed to compete and excel in the new digital economy,” he explained.