A major feature of the forum was an interactive panel session moderated by Ugochi Emmanuel, Chief Executive Officer of Tech Life Media and organizer of the Women Entrepreneurs & Executives in Technology Summit (WEETS). The session brought together prominent female executives who shared their personal career journeys, outlined key requirements for professional growth, and emphasized the necessity of early preparation to achieve global impact in tech.
Sharing her trajectory into the technology landscape, Dr. Nkechi Newton-Denila, Chief Administrative Officer at Digital Realty Nigeria, observed that the systemic obstacles of past decades are gradually easing, giving way to unprecedented opportunities for women.
“Today, the landscape is vastly different. Governments, international organizations, and private institutions across the globe are intentionally creating opportunities for girls in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM),” Dr. Newton-Denila noted.
“This presents a unique advantage for young girls. Many organizations now deliberately promote gender inclusion and equal opportunities in technology. Therefore, if you discover an area within ICT that excites you, pursue it wholeheartedly. This window of opportunity may not remain open forever. Do not wait for others to decide your future for you. Identify your passion, chart your course, and remain committed to achieving your goals.”
Adding to this advice, Itunuola Aderemi, Associate Consultant and Information Security Analyst at Digital Encode, encouraged young participants to actively research diverse tech disciplines—such as cybersecurity, data analytics, and data science; to identify specializations that best match their personal strengths and career ambitions.
Addressing structural hurdles, Glory Omole, Retail Team Lead at New Horizons Nigeria, acknowledged that gender stereotypes remain a challenge, but stressed that progressive organizations are taking direct action to change the narrative.
“Our leadership recognizes the urgent need to increase female participation in ICT,” Omole explained. “Considering that women still constitute a relatively small percentage of the global technology workforce, there is a deliberate effort to encourage more girls and women to enter the field.”
However, Omole cautioned that the advocacy for gender inclusion should not be viewed as a battle between sexes, but rather as a collaborative partnership that offers equitable opportunities for all. She highlighted high-demand disciplines such as data science, cybersecurity, web development, and UI/UX design, urging students to select skills based on their natural interests.
Reinforcing the importance of guidance, Mistura Salaudeen, Assistant Manager of Products & Services at Zoracom, emphasized mentorship as a critical tool for building confidence and overcoming societal stereotypes.
“While challenges persist, I believe our focus should shift toward opportunities rather than obstacles,” Salaudeen stated. “Artificial Intelligence, for example, has significantly lowered barriers to entry. AI enables individuals to develop business proposals, prepare presentations, and execute ideas much faster than before. Instead of being discouraged, girls should leverage available technologies and supportive communities to accelerate their growth and maximize emerging opportunities.”
Emphasizing the universal reach of technology, Dr. Newton-Denila concluded that digital tools have now integrated into every modern discipline.
“It is important to understand that ICT now permeates virtually every profession; whether in medicine, law, engineering, agriculture, or business,” she remarked.
“In medicine, AI is increasingly utilized in diagnostics, telemedicine, and robotic surgery, while in law, digital applications streamline legal research and case management. Technology is no longer an isolated sector, but an indispensable component of all professional practice.”
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