Together with New Horizons Nigeria, Kafilat Ogbara, the Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, has started an empowerment skills program for 300 women in Lagos who were chosen from a variety of academic fields in honour of the 2025 International Women’s Day.

Mr Tim Akano, CEO of New Horizons Nigeria, commended Ogbara for taking the initiative to fund women’s ICT training. All 300 students would have a thorough understanding of the Information Technology (IT) ecosystem, what they can do with IT skills, and how to determine which IT talent is best for them by the end of the course, he said.

Speaking to the women at the start of the training session in Lagos, Ogbara noted that the 300 scholarships she had given to young women studying ICT were her way of honouring International Women’s Day by empowering women. “The global event serves as a platform to highlight women’s social, economic, cultural, and political contributions while advocating for their rights and also raising awareness about existing inequalities, and advocate for a future where women have equal rights and opportunities. This year’s theme: ‘Accelerate Action’ resonates deeply with my mandate. This is why the House of Reps Committee recently unveiled a compendium to celebrate women in leadership positions in Nigeria tagged: ‘Jewels of hope and development in Nigeria’. We are dedicated to fostering an environment where women’s voices are heard, their rights are upheld, and their potentials unleashed. Together, we aim to create policies that not only address the unique challenges women face but also promote their leadership and participation in decision-making processes,” Ogbara said.

She counselled the ladies to make the most of the ICT training in order to question presumptions, work together, and open the door for creative solutions that promote social justice and gender equity.