Copyright leadership
The Girl Child Values Support Initiative (GCVSI), with support from the French Embassy Fund, has empowered over 200 young women and girls — including those with disabilities — in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) through the ongoing STEAMinist Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Project in Bauchi State. LEADERSHIP reports that the project, which has been running for the past five months, is designed to equip participants with practical and entrepreneurial skills to make them self-reliant and capable of using technology and creativity to combat gender-based violence and social exclusion. Speaking to journalists during the graduation ceremony of some of the students, Oluwatosin Zuriel, the Senior Programme Officer for GCVSI in Bauchi State, explained that the STEAMinist Project was conceived to give young women the opportunity to learn relevant digital and technical skills that can transform their lives and communities. According to him, the initiative aims to challenge the narrative of high school dropouts among girls in Bauchi State by providing them with access to modern skills that can open new job opportunities — even remotely. Zuriel noted that more than 500 young women and girls applied for the first phase of the programme, with over 150 selected for the initial training. He described this as proof of Bauchi’s readiness to embrace technology and innovation. He expressed appreciation to the French Embassy Fund for its support and encouraged young women across Bauchi State to apply for the second phase of the STEAMinist training through the Girl Child VSI’s official social media pages and partner hubs. Some of the beneficiaries of the ongoing training commended the Girl Child Values Support Initiative and the French Embassy Fund for giving them life-changing opportunities. Hafsat Abdulrazaq, a 400-level Electrical and Electronics Engineering student at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), said the training has helped her gain vital practical experience and confidence in her field. Another participant, Mansura Abdulhakim, who trained in Graphic Design, said the programme not only nurtured her passion for art but also gave her the confidence to turn her skills into a source of income. For Lawan Yunus Sylvanus, a student of Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, who majored in Electronics Design and Implementation, the training bridged the gap between theory and practice in his academic work.
