The Kano State Government has commended Webfala Digital Skills for All Initiative for successfully training 150 women in essential digital skills, a move hailed as a significant step toward female empowerment and inclusive economic development in northern Nigeria.
The training, which took place over several weeks in Kano, focused on equipping women many of them young, unemployed, or underemployed with practical skills in areas such as computer literacy, digital marketing, graphic design, and online entrepreneurship.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the state’s Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Zahra’u Umar, lauded the initiative for aligning with the government’s drive to bridge the digital divide and promote gender equity in the tech space.
“Empowering women with digital tools is not just about education it’s about giving them the confidence and capacity to transform their communities,” Dr. Umar said. “We are proud of what Webfala has achieved and look forward to more partnerships like this.”
Founded with the mission to expand access to digital literacy across underserved communities, Webfala Initiative has conducted similar training programs in other parts of the country. Its Executive Director, Aanuoluwapo Afolabi, noted that the Kano project was particularly impactful due to strong community support and the enthusiasm of the participants.
“Many of these women had never touched a computer before. Today, they can build resumes, manage social media accounts, and even start online businesses,” Afolabi said. “This is what sustainable empowerment looks like.”
Several beneficiaries shared their experiences during the closing event, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to learn skills that can lead to employment or self-sufficiency. Hafsat Ismail, one of the trainees, described the experience as “life-changing.”
“Before this program, I had no idea how digital tools could change my life. Now, I’m freelancing and earning money online. I never thought this would be possible,” she said.
The project has drawn praise from NGOs, private sector partners, and local leaders, who see it as a model for effective grassroots development. With Nigeria’s digital economy growing rapidly, experts stress the importance of including more women in the tech ecosystem particularly in northern regions where access to such opportunities has traditionally been limited.
As Webfala continues to expand its reach, the Kano success story stands as a powerful testament to what’s possible when innovation meets inclusion and when women are given the tools to shape their own futures.
source: thesun.ng
