In a classroom at the Women Tech Hub, CBT building, Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech), Lagos, an elderly woman stands dishing out instructions to a group of young women and adolescent girls who are busy with their computers. She is the coordinator of Girls Education and Skills Partnership (GESP) programme of Yaba College of Technology (GESP, Yabatech).


The woman, Dr. Funmilayo Doherty, is equally a Chief Lecturer at the College and Director, Centre for Research Support and Grants Management, Yabatech, Lagos.

A passionate advocate for young girls’ empowerment, her vision is for every young woman in Nigeria to have access to quality education and practical skills training that enables her to thrive in any field she chooses. “I want to see more women breaking barriers in technology, science, entrepreneurship, and leadership,” she says.

GESP was launched at Yaba College of Technology in November 2024 to ensure that women are not left behind in the rapidly evolving world of work. The classroom is peopled by young girls who have just finished senior secondary school and a few graduates from higher institutions across the country. They are part of the first cohort of the programme aimed at empowering them in technology, computer repairs, and mobile phone maintenance and web designs.

“There are over 500 girls for the first cohort and we plan training over 5,000 in Lagos,” she quips. Speaking on the project, the lady reveals: “It was established by UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited together with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and major businesses, it aims support access to high quality and market relevant skills for young women aged between 13 to 24 years, promoting equality of choice and access to opportunities in learning, skill, and livelihoods.

“By showcasing success stories and providing strong mentorship, we are gradually changing mindsets and encouraging more women to embrace skills training.”
This aligns with the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, which advocates for inclusion and gender equality in STEM and technical fields, while International Day of Women (IWD) theme for 2025 is “Accelerate Action.


”https://guardian.ng/art/gesp-bridges-gender-gap-empowers-girls-for-creative-economy-doherty/