By Rauf Oyewole
Not less than 250 female tech experts who were trained under the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAMinists project) have embarked on a-three-day hackathon to develop projects targeting reduction of gender-based violence in a digital space.
The tech girls, who were trained between June and December 2025 by the Girl Child Values Support Initiative (GCVSI) to acquire tech skills and raise awareness on digital space, using web design, painting, 3D graphics, App development, 3D animation, 3D modelling, soldering and electronics, photography and videography, digital storytelling and podcasting, drama and theatre.
Owa Oluwatosin Zuriel, a senior programme officer at GCVSI, speaking on Tuesday at the contest, said that the hackathon is the STEAMinists project aimed aimed at harvesting the creative and collaboration abilities of the beneficiaries to brainstorm on solutions tailored to tackling gender-based violence in their communities.
Also, the organisation had on Monday held a high-level advocacy and partnership forum themed “Institutionalising STEAM for GBV Prevention, Disability Inclusion and Women’s Economic Empowerment. The forum was organised by the Girl Child Values Support Initiative (GCVSI) with support from the French Embassy Fund (FEF) and CSOs Progress Partners.
The Bauchi State Government has also vowed to institutionalise STEAM education, which it said remained critical to building safer, more inclusive and economically empowered communities in the State.
A gender desk officer of the Bauchi State Ministry of Education, Ms. Mary Ishaya, stressed the need for deliberate policy implementation to strengthen STEAM education in schools.
She called for the provision of well-equipped science facilities, the integration of GBV education into school curricula, participatory budgeting and empowerment programmes that would enable girls and women to thrive economically.
On his part, the Director of Science, Technical and Vocational Education, Mr. Bashir Aliyu, expressed the ministry’s support for the initiative, describing the project as a significant step towards reducing GBV and promoting skills development among young people in the state.
One of the tech participants, Sakirat Adedeji, a photography and videography embarked on project to create enlightenment prevention and reporting of gender-based violence on digital space. “I want to tell the world that GBV has solutions through production of images and video clips online.”
Also, Faith Ayuba Shaibu, a digital storyteller and podcaster is on a project to break the culture of silence and amplify the voice of the vulnerable and soft targets in the society.
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