Abuja: The Helpline Social Support Initiative has announced the selection of over 100 women and young girls from across Africa to partake in the first-ever Africa Women Conference (AWC) Women and Girls Digital Technology Hub. This initiative aims to equip them with skills in AI and data science.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Arome Ibrahim, the Programme Director of the AWC Digital Tech Hub, revealed that the organisation has partnered with DataCamp Donates (USA) to kick off the AI and Data Science Programme. The 2025 AWC is scheduled to occur from Nov. 19 to Nov. 21 in Accra, Ghana, under the theme 'Legacy Meets Innovation: Women Forging New Pathways for Africa's Sustainable Development.'
Ibrahim detailed that the initiative will grant approximately 100 DataCamp course licenses to the selected participants. He described the AI and Data Analytics Programme as an impact-driven initiative aimed at empowering women and girls from across Africa with future-ready skills in AI and Data Science.
The initiative emerged from a resolution made during AWC Zambia 2024, which sought to provide participants with access to high-quality courses on DataCamp. This platform is renowned for learning data skills. Participants will undergo a three-month structured training followed by six months of self-paced learning, enabling them to earn globally recognized certifications and develop competencies in AI, data analysis, and data science.
Ibrahim emphasized that the initiative is rooted in AWC's mission to bridge the digital divide affecting women and girls on the continent. This builds on resolutions from the 2024 Africa Women Conference in Zambia, which highlighted the urgency of addressing gender gaps in technology access and innovation.
The programme aims to create pathways to employment, entrepreneurship, and community-driven tech solutions by investing in women's digital skills. The collaboration with DataCamp Donates is intended to expand opportunities for underrepresented voices in the digital space.
In addition to technical skills, participants will engage in bi-weekly live sessions, mentorship opportunities, and a community of peer support. Eligible applicants are women or girls aged 15-45 residing in Africa with access to a laptop and internet.
Country distribution for the participants includes Nigeria with 25 participants, Ghana with nine, Cameroon and Somalia with five each, and several other countries with varying numbers of participants. The inaugural session is scheduled for Oct. 25, with the first cohort expected to graduate in May 2026.
The 100 selected participants were chosen from over 3,500 applications based on interest, commitment, and potential for impact.