Meryem is 7 years old she’s a bright and spirited girl she has
she’s a bright and spirited girl she has
she’s a bright and spirited girl she has two brothers and they like to play
two brothers and they like to play
two brothers and they like to play together lots Miriam has dolls she has
together lots Miriam has dolls she has
together lots Miriam has dolls she has doll houses
doll houses
doll houses she has sewing kits and the kitchen
she has sewing kits and the kitchen
she has sewing kits and the kitchen since her brothers have robots they have
since her brothers have robots they have
since her brothers have robots they have construction sets they have very cool
construction sets they have very cool
construction sets they have very cool cars they have video games they like to
cars they have video games they like to
cars they have video games they like to play together but Merriam’s brothers
play together but Merriam’s brothers
play together but Merriam’s brothers absolutely refuse to play with any of
absolutely refuse to play with any of
absolutely refuse to play with any of Miriam’s toys so they always end up
Miriam’s toys so they always end up
Miriam’s toys so they always end up playing with their toys Miriam doesn’t
playing with their toys Miriam doesn’t
playing with their toys Miriam doesn’t mind though in fact she secretly likes
mind though in fact she secretly likes
mind though in fact she secretly likes it she gets higher scores than them on
it she gets higher scores than them on
it she gets higher scores than them on the video games
the video games
the video games she makes crystals from the science kits
she makes crystals from the science kits
she makes crystals from the science kits and uses it to make earrings and
and uses it to make earrings and
and uses it to make earrings and necklaces for herself she builds higher
necklaces for herself she builds higher
necklaces for herself she builds higher towers than they do and her robots can
towers than they do and her robots can
towers than they do and her robots can do far more complex things than theirs
do far more complex things than theirs
do far more complex things than theirs she thinks that maybe when she gets
she thinks that maybe when she gets
she thinks that maybe when she gets older she would like to have a job where
older she would like to have a job where
older she would like to have a job where she can build cool things all day long
she can build cool things all day long
she can build cool things all day long everyone sells Miriam do that she isn’t
everyone sells Miriam do that she isn’t
everyone sells Miriam do that she isn’t ladylike enough that she needs to play
ladylike enough that she needs to play
ladylike enough that she needs to play with more ladylike games
with more ladylike games
with more ladylike games Miriam totally ignores them and
Miriam totally ignores them and
Miriam totally ignores them and continues to play with her brothers but
continues to play with her brothers but
continues to play with her brothers but as time goes on she plays with them less
as time goes on she plays with them less
as time goes on she plays with them less and less until eventually she stops
and less until eventually she stops
and less until eventually she stops playing with them altogether now Miriam
playing with them altogether now Miriam
playing with them altogether now Miriam is 14 years old she still gets good
is 14 years old she still gets good
is 14 years old she still gets good marks in her math science and computer
marks in her math science and computer
marks in her math science and computer classes but Miriam no longer thinks of
classes but Miriam no longer thinks of
classes but Miriam no longer thinks of becoming an engineer a computer
becoming an engineer a computer
becoming an engineer a computer scientist or anything remotely related
scientist or anything remotely related
scientist or anything remotely related to technology Miriam could have come up
to technology Miriam could have come up
to technology Miriam could have come up with an innovation that could save lives
with an innovation that could save lives
with an innovation that could save lives change the world that we live in today
change the world that we live in today
change the world that we live in today make great impacts in the area of
make great impacts in the area of
make great impacts in the area of agriculture health education
but Miriam doesn’t see a place for
but Miriam doesn’t see a place for herself in technology anymore so
herself in technology anymore so
herself in technology anymore so unfortunately we’ll never know the
unfortunately we’ll never know the
unfortunately we’ll never know the fantastic things that Miriam and other
fantastic things that Miriam and other
fantastic things that Miriam and other girls like her could have come up with
girls like her could have come up with
girls like her could have come up with that is the problem in Nigeria
that is the problem in Nigeria
that is the problem in Nigeria and in many parts of the world today
and in many parts of the world today
and in many parts of the world today we’re trying to improve lives of our
we’re trying to improve lives of our
we’re trying to improve lives of our citizens and build up our economies but
citizens and build up our economies but
citizens and build up our economies but we’re only playing with half of our team
uh-huh so these are my parents I grew up
uh-huh so these are my parents I grew up as the daughter of two engineers my
as the daughter of two engineers my
as the daughter of two engineers my father was an electrical engineer and my
father was an electrical engineer and my
father was an electrical engineer and my mother a civil engineer and that’s one
mother a civil engineer and that’s one
mother a civil engineer and that’s one of the issues we have with technology so
of the issues we have with technology so
of the issues we have with technology so my mom was the smartest person that I
my mom was the smartest person that I
my mom was the smartest person that I knew well my dad was well but my mom
knew well my dad was well but my mom
knew well my dad was well but my mom very smart she graduated top of her
very smart she graduated top of her
very smart she graduated top of her class when she studied engineering she
class when she studied engineering she
class when she studied engineering she was one of just two women in a class of
was one of just two women in a class of
was one of just two women in a class of a hundred
a hundred
a hundred she was called back after she graduated
she was called back after she graduated
she was called back after she graduated by her university to start a doctoral
by her university to start a doctoral
by her university to start a doctoral program and she graduated as the first
program and she graduated as the first
program and she graduated as the first Nigerian woman with a PhD in civil
Nigerian woman with a PhD in civil
Nigerian woman with a PhD in civil engineering from a Nigerian versity my
engineering from a Nigerian versity my
engineering from a Nigerian versity my father an electrical engineer he was the
father an electrical engineer he was the
father an electrical engineer he was the ultimate techie
ultimate techie
ultimate techie he was always bringing in one device or
he was always bringing in one device or
he was always bringing in one device or the other we would have like a pacman
the other we would have like a pacman
the other we would have like a pacman game I don’t know how many of you know
game I don’t know how many of you know
game I don’t know how many of you know pac-man Nintendo Gameboy we had our very
pac-man Nintendo Gameboy we had our very
pac-man Nintendo Gameboy we had our very first personal computer with the
first personal computer with the
first personal computer with the earliest version of Windows installed in
earliest version of Windows installed in
earliest version of Windows installed in its then he would gather my siblings and
its then he would gather my siblings and
its then he would gather my siblings and I together so we could on our over the
I together so we could on our over the
I together so we could on our over the Sinise’s device he didn’t discriminate
Sinise’s device he didn’t discriminate
Sinise’s device he didn’t discriminate between his son and his daughters and he
between his son and his daughters and he
between his son and his daughters and he would teach us how to use it I didn’t
would teach us how to use it I didn’t
would teach us how to use it I didn’t really think much of the way my parents
really think much of the way my parents
really think much of the way my parents raised me until I was much older and I
raised me until I was much older and I
raised me until I was much older and I realized that the way they had pushed us
realized that the way they had pushed us
realized that the way they had pushed us and loved us and encouraged us had given
and loved us and encouraged us had given
and loved us and encouraged us had given us wings to fly now I I was good in
us wings to fly now I I was good in
us wings to fly now I I was good in maths and I was I was shy or very quiet
maths and I was I was shy or very quiet
maths and I was I was shy or very quiet I was very analytical I didn’t know
I was very analytical I didn’t know
I was very analytical I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do as a career
exactly what I wanted to do as a career
exactly what I wanted to do as a career but I I wanted to find my own path in
but I I wanted to find my own path in
but I I wanted to find my own path in life I didn’t want to study engineering
life I didn’t want to study engineering
life I didn’t want to study engineering I didn’t want to be the engineers
I didn’t want to be the engineers
I didn’t want to be the engineers daughter who became an engineer so I
daughter who became an engineer so I
daughter who became an engineer so I studied economics because it would use
studied economics because it would use
studied economics because it would use the maths that I liked so I went on
the maths that I liked so I went on
the maths that I liked so I went on applied for
applied for
applied for degree in economics oh I want to pause
degree in economics oh I want to pause
degree in economics oh I want to pause this okay so before I started University
this okay so before I started University
this okay so before I started University I started I went to computer school and
I started I went to computer school and
I started I went to computer school and that was when I learned how to write
that was when I learned how to write
that was when I learned how to write programs I learned how to code and it
programs I learned how to code and it
programs I learned how to code and it was such an eye-opener because for the
was such an eye-opener because for the
was such an eye-opener because for the first time I could tell a computer what
first time I could tell a computer what
first time I could tell a computer what to do and it was such a thrill then I
to do and it was such a thrill then I
to do and it was such a thrill then I started to get an idea of the power of
started to get an idea of the power of
started to get an idea of the power of computers to change our lives and if
computers to change our lives and if
computers to change our lives and if you’re lucky make some money too so
you’re lucky make some money too so
you’re lucky make some money too so after I finished my degree in economics
after I finished my degree in economics
after I finished my degree in economics I went on for a master’s in information
I went on for a master’s in information
I went on for a master’s in information systems and then a postgraduate
systems and then a postgraduate
systems and then a postgraduate certificate in Applied Sciences when I
certificate in Applied Sciences when I
certificate in Applied Sciences when I was studying I was also volunteering as
was studying I was also volunteering as
was studying I was also volunteering as well I volunteered in women’s shelters
well I volunteered in women’s shelters
well I volunteered in women’s shelters where I was teaching women who had left
where I was teaching women who had left
where I was teaching women who had left abusive relationships and marriages how
abusive relationships and marriages how
abusive relationships and marriages how to use computers basic computer literacy
to use computers basic computer literacy
to use computers basic computer literacy but I saw how they leveraged their new
but I saw how they leveraged their new
but I saw how they leveraged their new skills to get jobs that they previously
skills to get jobs that they previously
skills to get jobs that they previously did not qualify for I saw how they were
did not qualify for I saw how they were
did not qualify for I saw how they were now supporting their families with the
now supporting their families with the
now supporting their families with the money that they were earning so I saw
money that they were earning so I saw
money that they were earning so I saw that technology was truly a bridge with
that technology was truly a bridge with
that technology was truly a bridge with which the disempowered could lift
which the disempowered could lift
which the disempowered could lift themselves out of poverty and
themselves out of poverty and
themselves out of poverty and powerlessness I was very interested in
powerlessness I was very interested in
powerlessness I was very interested in how women in particular could leverage
how women in particular could leverage
how women in particular could leverage technology now so I I was I was
technology now so I I was I was
technology now so I I was I was wondering as I was trying to get more
wondering as I was trying to get more
wondering as I was trying to get more women using technology I realize how few
women using technology I realize how few
women using technology I realize how few women there were who actually creating
women there were who actually creating
women there were who actually creating technology and I wondered why women use
technology and I wondered why women use
technology and I wondered why women use a lot of technology if they have access
a lot of technology if they have access
a lot of technology if they have access to it and they have the time to use it
to it and they have the time to use it
to it and they have the time to use it but a lot of the tools were using
but a lot of the tools were using
but a lot of the tools were using actually developed by men the problem
actually developed by men the problem
actually developed by men the problem starts actually from our education you
starts actually from our education you
starts actually from our education you find that in Nigeria the statistics show
find that in Nigeria the statistics show
find that in Nigeria the statistics show that of the total number of graduates of
that of the total number of graduates of
that of the total number of graduates of engineering and technology each year
engineering and technology each year
engineering and technology each year only 22 percent are women
only 22 percent are women
only 22 percent are women that means that we have only 22% of them
that means that we have only 22% of them
that means that we have only 22% of them going into IT workforce now research
going into IT workforce now research
going into IT workforce now research also shows that within the first 10
also shows that within the first 10
also shows that within the first 10 years of working most of those women the
years of working most of those women the
years of working most of those women the dropouts they leave the workplace that
dropouts they leave the workplace that
dropouts they leave the workplace that means that you have very few women who
means that you have very few women who
means that you have very few women who actually reaching the top in technology
actually reaching the top in technology
actually reaching the top in technology companies so when a girl like Miriam who
companies so when a girl like Miriam who
companies so when a girl like Miriam who we met earlier looks at the technology
we met earlier looks at the technology
we met earlier looks at the technology landscape she doesn’t see anyone who
landscape she doesn’t see anyone who
landscape she doesn’t see anyone who looks like her and she feels that there
looks like her and she feels that there
looks like her and she feels that there is not a place for me in technology the
is not a place for me in technology the
is not a place for me in technology the research actually backs this up it shows
research actually backs this up it shows
research actually backs this up it shows that up to the age of 11 to 12 girls are
that up to the age of 11 to 12 girls are
that up to the age of 11 to 12 girls are interested in boys in technology in
interested in boys in technology in
interested in boys in technology in maths and Sciences but something happens
maths and Sciences but something happens
maths and Sciences but something happens after that that is when they actually
after that that is when they actually
after that that is when they actually starts to take in the messages that
starts to take in the messages that
starts to take in the messages that society is sending them that technology
society is sending them that technology
society is sending them that technology is not for you so one thing that I do is
is not for you so one thing that I do is
is not for you so one thing that I do is I try to attract more girls into
I try to attract more girls into
I try to attract more girls into technology I do this by organizing
technology I do this by organizing
technology I do this by organizing technology camps residential camps
technology camps residential camps
technology camps residential camps after-school clubs we found over the
after-school clubs we found over the
after-school clubs we found over the years about 36 percent of the girls
years about 36 percent of the girls
years about 36 percent of the girls we’ve worked with are actually going in
we’ve worked with are actually going in
we’ve worked with are actually going in for Science and Technology degrees I
for Science and Technology degrees I
for Science and Technology degrees I admit that I was hoping to see big and
admit that I was hoping to see big and
admit that I was hoping to see big and faster results but making change takes
faster results but making change takes
faster results but making change takes time we found that there are five things
time we found that there are five things
time we found that there are five things that you need to do I mean to make
that you need to do I mean to make
that you need to do I mean to make technology more accessible for young
technology more accessible for young
technology more accessible for young girls number one you need to start early
girls number one you need to start early
girls number one you need to start early if you want to change mindsets you need
if you want to change mindsets you need
if you want to change mindsets you need to start early so we started working
to start early so we started working
to start early so we started working with girls who are age 11 but we’ve
with girls who are age 11 but we’ve
with girls who are age 11 but we’ve since expanded through primary school
since expanded through primary school
since expanded through primary school you need to make your classes you need
you need to make your classes you need
you need to make your classes you need to make them fun and engaging and show
to make them fun and engaging and show
to make them fun and engaging and show girls that they can actually be
girls that they can actually be
girls that they can actually be technology creates us not just users
technology creates us not just users
technology creates us not just users find out what they’re interested in when
find out what they’re interested in when
find out what they’re interested in when you find out what you’re interested in
you find out what you’re interested in
you find out what you’re interested in then you can actually tie that in with
then you can actually tie that in with
then you can actually tie that in with technology and let them see how they can
technology and let them see how they can
technology and let them see how they can their they can develop something online
their they can develop something online
their they can develop something online through their interest so we had a group
through their interest so we had a group
through their interest so we had a group of girls for instance who creates it and
of girls for instance who creates it and
of girls for instance who creates it and app so give fashion advice based on
app so give fashion advice based on
app so give fashion advice based on different body types we had another
different body types we had another
different body types we had another group of girls who created an app see
group of girls who created an app see
group of girls who created an app see reports incidences of rape and sexual
reports incidences of rape and sexual
reports incidences of rape and sexual violence because that was something that
violence because that was something that
violence because that was something that they had personal experiences with then
they had personal experiences with then
they had personal experiences with then the second thing is that ideally make
the second thing is that ideally make
the second thing is that ideally make the classes of the sessions female only
the classes of the sessions female only
the classes of the sessions female only I know that we don’t live in a world
I know that we don’t live in a world
I know that we don’t live in a world that is filled with just women but the
that is filled with just women but the
that is filled with just women but the research has also shown that for girls
research has also shown that for girls
research has also shown that for girls especially girls of a certain age they
especially girls of a certain age they
especially girls of a certain age they feel more comfortable when they’re among
feel more comfortable when they’re among
feel more comfortable when they’re among all the girls and I’m sure a lot of the
all the girls and I’m sure a lot of the
all the girls and I’m sure a lot of the women can relate
women can relate
women can relate you can make your mistakes you can ask
you can make your mistakes you can ask
you can make your mistakes you can ask your questions without worrying about
your questions without worrying about
your questions without worrying about how you look in front of others the
how you look in front of others the
how you look in front of others the third point is that you need to connect
third point is that you need to connect
third point is that you need to connect the girls with menses positive female
the girls with menses positive female
the girls with menses positive female role models if a girl like Miriam had
role models if a girl like Miriam had
role models if a girl like Miriam had looked out and seen a woman working in
looked out and seen a woman working in
looked out and seen a woman working in technology she could have thought yeah
technology she could have thought yeah
technology she could have thought yeah this is something for me this is
this is something for me this is
this is something for me this is something that I can do the fourth
something that I can do the fourth
something that I can do the fourth points that we realized is that we need
points that we realized is that we need
points that we realized is that we need to build a community of intelligent
to build a community of intelligent
to build a community of intelligent ambitious women who can support each
ambitious women who can support each
ambitious women who can support each other and I feel that’s also part of
other and I feel that’s also part of
other and I feel that’s also part of what this platform is all about because
what this platform is all about because
what this platform is all about because even though they’re men and women here
even though they’re men and women here
even though they’re men and women here we’re a community of people who are
we’re a community of people who are
we’re a community of people who are supporting each other we are telling our
supporting each other we are telling our
supporting each other we are telling our stories and where we are here to share
stories and where we are here to share
stories and where we are here to share and help each other in whatever way we
and help each other in whatever way we
and help each other in whatever way we can
can
can and same thing with the girls it’s very
and same thing with the girls it’s very
and same thing with the girls it’s very important
important
important this is particularly crucial because if
this is particularly crucial because if
this is particularly crucial because if you want to close a gap it’s not just
you want to close a gap it’s not just
you want to close a gap it’s not just enough to attract more girls to say oh I
enough to attract more girls to say oh I
enough to attract more girls to say oh I think I’d like to study technology or
think I’d like to study technology or
think I’d like to study technology or computer science you need to actually
computer science you need to actually
computer science you need to actually keep them in the field they need to stay
keep them in the field they need to stay
keep them in the field they need to stay the course a woman who is in technology
the course a woman who is in technology
the course a woman who is in technology is usually the only woman in her class
is usually the only woman in her class
is usually the only woman in her class in her team and her departments maybe
in her team and her departments maybe
in her team and her departments maybe even in her company so they need to be
even in her company so they need to be
even in her company so they need to be able to connect with other women and
able to connect with other women and
able to connect with other women and supportive men who have had like
supportive men who have had like
supportive men who have had like successful careers so they can say okay
successful careers so they can say okay
successful careers so they can say okay it’s possible it’s doable I can do this
it’s possible it’s doable I can do this
it’s possible it’s doable I can do this if they can do it soon and then one the
if they can do it soon and then one the
if they can do it soon and then one the fifth strategy that we found out is that
fifth strategy that we found out is that
fifth strategy that we found out is that it’s important to connect
it’s important to connect
it’s important to connect with work experience so that they can
with work experience so that they can
with work experience so that they can see that what they’re learning is not
see that what they’re learning is not
see that what they’re learning is not just book knowledge but is actually
just book knowledge but is actually
just book knowledge but is actually solving real problems this is Sophia she
solving real problems this is Sophia she
solving real problems this is Sophia she attended a technology camp that we
attended a technology camp that we
attended a technology camp that we organized when she was 13 years old at
organized when she was 13 years old at
organized when she was 13 years old at the time she had just a passing interest
the time she had just a passing interest
the time she had just a passing interest in technology but afterwards she was so
in technology but afterwards she was so
in technology but afterwards she was so fired up that she came returned and she
fired up that she came returned and she
fired up that she came returned and she was out teaching girls to design
was out teaching girls to design
was out teaching girls to design websites to build games and create
websites to build games and create
websites to build games and create mobile apps
mobile apps
mobile apps this is delaqua she attended the camp
this is delaqua she attended the camp
this is delaqua she attended the camp when she was 12 pretty young she was
when she was 12 pretty young she was
when she was 12 pretty young she was throwing this picture and she also came
throwing this picture and she also came
throwing this picture and she also came back and was she returned to further
back and was she returned to further
back and was she returned to further editions of the camp to teach girls they
editions of the camp to teach girls they
editions of the camp to teach girls they both gave back today dalek was studying
both gave back today dalek was studying
both gave back today dalek was studying medicine with a minor in computer
medicine with a minor in computer
medicine with a minor in computer science and Sophia’s is studying
science and Sophia’s is studying
science and Sophia’s is studying computer science at legal State
computer science at legal State
computer science at legal State University I’m happy that both of them
University I’m happy that both of them
University I’m happy that both of them have committed to a career in technology
have committed to a career in technology
have committed to a career in technology but they still have a long road ahead
but they still have a long road ahead
but they still have a long road ahead and if the road ahead that is much
and if the road ahead that is much
and if the road ahead that is much harder if we want to close this gap I
harder if we want to close this gap I
harder if we want to close this gap I think that first spark of interest is
think that first spark of interest is
think that first spark of interest is good but we need to follow it up by
good but we need to follow it up by
good but we need to follow it up by showing girls that they truly do have a
showing girls that they truly do have a
showing girls that they truly do have a place in technology and we need to hold
place in technology and we need to hold
place in technology and we need to hold their hand and support them for as long
their hand and support them for as long
their hand and support them for as long as they need it so parents I would say
as they need it so parents I would say
as they need it so parents I would say don’t shower your girls with gifts of
don’t shower your girls with gifts of
don’t shower your girls with gifts of dolls and kitchen sets while you let
dolls and kitchen sets while you let
dolls and kitchen sets while you let your sons have the very cool gifts of
your sons have the very cool gifts of
your sons have the very cool gifts of robots and toy cars you can give your
robots and toy cars you can give your
robots and toy cars you can give your daughters the dolls and the robots
daughters the dolls and the robots
daughters the dolls and the robots because if you give her only the dolls
because if you give her only the dolls
because if you give her only the dolls and the kitchen sets what you’re telling
and the kitchen sets what you’re telling
and the kitchen sets what you’re telling her is that her future options are
her is that her future options are
her is that her future options are limited to cooking and caring for others
so this is my daughter
so this is my daughter wammy she’s two years old anyone who
wammy she’s two years old anyone who
wammy she’s two years old anyone who knows had news that she’s boy
knows had news that she’s boy
knows had news that she’s boy old she’s audacious she is she’s very
old she’s audacious she is she’s very
old she’s audacious she is she’s very very smart and she’s inquisitive those
very smart and she’s inquisitive those
very smart and she’s inquisitive those are all good characteristics to do well
are all good characteristics to do well
are all good characteristics to do well in technology right now as you can see
in technology right now as you can see
in technology right now as you can see she’s already a lover of technology
she’s already a lover of technology
she’s already a lover of technology she likes to take my phone and my
she likes to take my phone and my
she likes to take my phone and my tablets but she is still just a user of
tablets but she is still just a user of
tablets but she is still just a user of technology but you can be sure that
technology but you can be sure that
technology but you can be sure that knowing what I know and the experiences
knowing what I know and the experiences
knowing what I know and the experiences that I’ve had I’m going to encourage her
that I’ve had I’m going to encourage her
that I’ve had I’m going to encourage her to learn how to code create and to build
to learn how to code create and to build
to learn how to code create and to build technology I want mommy Miriam and all
technology I want mommy Miriam and all
technology I want mommy Miriam and all other girls like her who likes to use
other girls like her who likes to use
other girls like her who likes to use technology who are interested maybe in
technology who are interested maybe in
technology who are interested maybe in math and sciences to keep up that love
math and sciences to keep up that love
math and sciences to keep up that love and hopefully in the future they can
and hopefully in the future they can
and hopefully in the future they can join a generation of women who are
join a generation of women who are
join a generation of women who are creating innovation that’s changing
creating innovation that’s changing
creating innovation that’s changing lives I would like all of us to work
lives I would like all of us to work
lives I would like all of us to work together to build a bridge where we can
together to build a bridge where we can
together to build a bridge where we can see a future that men and women are
see a future that men and women are
see a future that men and women are working together and are equal players
working together and are equal players
working together and are equal players in technology thank you
”
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