Young girls connected in Africa: net against poverty and for dignity: Coding camp for connected girls in Africa: 7th edition, from February 20 to March 1 in Niamey, Niger.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), in collaboration with the Government of Niger and UN-Women, is organizing its 7th edition of coding training for young girls in Africa from February 20 to March 1 in Niamey, Niger. This coding camp for Nigerien girls covers technical fields such as animation, gaming and web development, robotics and the Internet of Things, and 3D printing. Young girls connected in Africa: net against poverty and for dignity.

Coding camp for connected girls in Africa

About 100 Nigerien girls aged 12 to 25 are participating in person in the 7th edition of the coding training for young girls in Africa in Niamey.

This training, which is part of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) initiative called “Coding Camp for Young Connected African Girls”, aims to promote access to ICTs for these young girls, provide them with a good foundation for long-term success in their employment, business creation or further education, and build important partnerships.

The launching ceremony of this coding camp was chaired by the Minister of Post and New Information Technologies, Mr. Hassane Moussa Baraze, in the presence of the Minister of Women’s Promotion and Child Protection, Mrs. Allahoury Aminata Zourkaleini, the Minister of National Education, Mr. Ibrahim Natatou, National Deputies, the Director of the Sub Regional Office for Africa of the ECA, Mrs. Ngone Diop, the Director of the Division of Technology, Climate Change and Natural Resources of the ECA, Mr. Jean-Paul Adam, the Representative of UNWOMEN in Niger, Mrs. MIAN DJANGONE Anne Marie Rachelle and several guests.

Enabling people to get out of poverty

Net against poverty and for dignity

In his speech at the launch of this coding camp, the Minister of Post and New Information Technologies of Niger, Mr. Hassane Moussa Baraze, stated that it is imperative to strengthen vocational training in general and that of young girls in particular and make operational the skills required to drive creativity and innovation.

“Technology skills can lift women out of poverty by providing them with middle and higher level jobs. It is also a stepping stone for high-potential women to higher levels. They finally reduce the gap between men and women,” said Mr. Hassane Moussa Baraze.

Coding camp for connected girls in Africa: 7th edition, from February 20 to March 1 in Niamey, Niger.

For her part, the Director of the ECA Sub-Regional Office for West Africa, Ms. Ngone Diop said that “In Niger, 70% of the population still does not have access to the Internet and this segment of the population excluded from its use is essentially made up of women, young people and the elderly.

“More than ever, Africa must accelerate digital transformation initiatives by strengthening the participation of youth in STEM activities,” said Ms. Ngone Diop.

Already more than 20,000 young women trained

As for Director of Technology, Climate Change and Natural Resources at ECA, Jean Paul Adam said that since the launch of this initiative in 2019, “ECA has already had to train more than 20,000 young women and girls, with 239 innovative projects and 49 awards for the best prototypes designed to solve the continent’s socio-economic challenges across the continent.”

This Nigerian girls’ coding camp covers technical areas such as animation, gaming and web development, robotics and the Internet of Things, and 3D printing.

It also includes generic cognitive processes such as project development, design thinking, and the role of women in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM).