WITIN Girls wins Commonwealth digital excellence award

The Executive Director of Women in Technology in Nigeria, Martha Alade.

WITIN Girls, a Nigerian initiative promoting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education among girls, has won the Universal Access Service Excellence Award at the 2026 Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation Digital Excellence Awards.

 The organisation disclosed the achievement in a post on LinkedIn, saying the award recognised its efforts to expand digital access and STEM learning opportunities for girls, particularly in underserved and hard-to-reach communities.

 WITIN Girls operates STEM clubs and outreach programmes designed to help girls develop digital skills and use technology to address challenges in their communities.

 The recognition highlights efforts to extend technology education beyond conventional learning environments and enable more girls to build skills for participation in the digital economy.

 The Executive Director of WITIN, Martha Alade, described the award as validation of the importance of extending digital and STEM opportunities to girls, particularly those in underserved communities.

 “Every girl deserves the opportunity to learn, create, innovate and see herself as a contributor to the digital future,” Alade said.

 She added that digital inclusion must begin at the grassroots level and requires sustained collaboration among educators, parents, communities and governments.

 The Chairperson of the WITIN Advisory Board, Dr Markie Idowu, said the award affirmed the initiative’s commitment to empowering Nigerian girls to participate and take leadership roles in the digital economy.

 WITIN credited the recognition to the efforts of its partners, coordinators, teachers, mentors, parents, volunteers and supporting institutions involved in its programmes.

 The organisation also acknowledged the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation for the award and praised its leadership under Secretary-General Bernadette Lewis.

 WITIN said it would continue its grassroots programmes to help girls build capabilities, explore technology and develop solutions to problems in their communities.