The Women in Technology in Nigeria (WITIN) Girls’ National Summit and STEM Exhibition 2025 is already reshaping Nigeria’s education and technology ecosystem, one month after the landmark event brought together girls, educators, policymakers and industry leaders in Abuja.

The two-day summit, held in the Federal Capital Territory, attracted around 1,000 participants from across the country, including delegations from Taraba, Borno, Kano, Anambra, and several other states. The goal was clear: to inspire more girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, while exposing them to practical, real-world problem-solving.

According to a statement on Sunday, the impact has been immediate. Schools nationwide have begun setting up new STEM clubs, introducing robotics and coding classes, and launching sustainability initiatives inspired by the exhibition.

“This is more than an event. It is a transformation,” WITIN Executive Director, Martha Alade, said. “Girls from rural and urban schools are returning with renewed confidence. We are seeing classrooms transformed into mini innovation hubs.”

The summit received backing from major national and international organisations, including the International Telecommunication Union, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Digital Economy and Innovation, NITDA, NCC, USPF and the Internet Society Nigeria Chapter.

As part of the National STEM Competition and Exhibitions for Girls 2025 themed “Innovate for Impact: STEM Solutions for a Sustainable Future”, participants were tasked with developing STEM projects aligned with at least one UN Sustainable Development Goal. The competition featured 265 state-level entries, regional exhibitions in seven states, and a national final in Abuja.

Trinity Secondary School, Onitsha, claimed the national title with its SACHA waste-management project. Federal Government College, Maiduguri, emerged first runner-up with a Sustainable Smart City model, while Governor’s Girls College, Kano, finished second runner-up with a solar-powered truck designed under the renewable energy category.

Other schools recognised for exceptional performance included Government Science Secondary School, Maitama; Castle Hill Academy, Abuja; Government Science & Technical College, Garki; New Girls Science & Technical College, Kano; and UBEC Model Smart School, Kano.

The summit hosted several distinguished speakers, among them Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani; ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin; and NITDA Director-General Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi. Representatives from leading technology and financial institutions also took part.

Universities played a strong role, with 11 tertiary institutions—including the University of Abuja, University of Lagos, Covenant University and Nnamdi Azikiwe University—providing mentors who guided participants through project development and presentations.

Industry leaders say the summit is cultivating a new generation of female innovators capable of addressing Nigeria’s evolving technological needs. Organisers revealed that several participating teams are already in talks with mentors, investors and organisations to scale their solutions beyond the classroom.

The overwhelming response and the wave of STEM activities that followed, they noted, show that Nigerian girls are positioned to become key drivers of the country’s digital transformation and builders of a sustainable technological future.