The 16-week She-Levate bootcamp targets participants from underserved areas including Makoko, Ilaje, Mushin, and Ikorodu
A groundbreaking digital skills initiative has commenced in Lagos State, bringing technology training directly to young women from marginalized communities. The She-Levate Tech Digital Bootcamp, launched this week by the Hopes Alive Initiative (HAI), represents a strategic effort to address gender inequality in Nigeria’s expanding technology sector.
Queen Temitope Ogunwusi, Deputy Convener of HAI and wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II, officially inaugurated the program at a press conference held Monday in Gbagada. The initiative will span four months, from July 1 through October 30, delivering comprehensive digital education to carefully selected participants.
“We are not merely training individuals—we are cultivating digital leaders from communities where opportunities have been scarce,” Queen Ogunwusi declared during the launch ceremony. She credited her husband’s vision for youth development across Africa as the driving force behind the foundation’s work.
Comprehensive Skills Development
The bootcamp curriculum encompasses six critical technology domains: User Interface and User Experience Design, Frontend Web Development, Backend Development using Python and Django frameworks, Data Analytics, WordPress Web Design, and Digital Marketing strategies. Technical instruction will be delivered by Edunity.ng, while funding comes through the French Embassy Fund for Civil Society Organisations (FEF-OSC).
HAI Programme Director Akapo Olusegun outlined the rigorous selection methodology that identified participants across ten communities spanning six Local Government Areas. Working alongside traditional rulers, faith-based organizations, and youth advocates, the team prioritized areas with the greatest need.
“Many of our selected participants have limited or no prior computer experience,” Olusegun noted. “We deliberately focused on the most vulnerable populations to maximize impact.”
Pathway to Economic Independence
The program structure includes 80 in-person training sessions complemented by practical project work, professional development workshops, and industry mentorship. A culminating job fair will connect graduates with potential employers seeking interns and entry-level candidates.
Each participant will complete portfolio-worthy projects demonstrating their newly acquired capabilities. The initiative targets a 70% placement rate, with graduates expected to secure employment or freelance opportunities within months of completion.
“Technology careers offer substantial earning potential—skilled professionals can generate ₦1 million or more monthly through legitimate remote work,” Olusegun emphasized. “This represents a direct pathway out of poverty and toward sustainable wealth creation.”
Sustainable Impact Framework
Beyond immediate skills transfer, She-Levate incorporates long-term support mechanisms, including an alumni network and ongoing access to a dedicated tech co-working space. These resources will enable continued learning, skill refinement, and professional networking within Lagos’s technology ecosystem.
The initiative aligns with multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Quality Education (SDG 4), Gender Equality (SDG 5), and Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8). It joins several other French Embassy-supported programs currently operating across Nigerian states, including Bauchi.
“This pilot program establishes a replicable framework,” Olusegun concluded. “Our vision extends beyond benefiting from technological advancement—we aim to position African women as technology leaders.”
Queen Ogunwusi urged participants to recognize the broader significance of their opportunity, emphasizing its potential impact on families, communities, and national development. The foundation plans to expand the model based on pilot program outcomes and participant success rates.
