ZAINAB JUNAID
Africa Agility’s flagship initiative, Girls in Tech (GIT) 8.0 programme has concluded with a dynamic Hackathon, showcasing the talents of over 1,100 young African women.
The GIT 8.0 program, which aimed at equipping African youth, girls especially, with digital skills, leadership training, and access to global tech opportunities, received 8,630 applications.
After a comprehensive selection process, 2,159 participants were admitted, and more than 1,100 graduated with hands-on experience with the confidence to thrive in the tech world.
Delivered in three transformative phases—TrainH3R, MentorH3R, and IncubateH3R—the program offered technical and soft skills development, one-on-one professional mentorship, and real-world project application. Participants selected from nine career-relevant tracks, including Product Management, AI and Machine Learning, Data Analysis, and Web Development, among others.
The culmination of GIT 8.0 was a vibrant Hackathon held on April 25, where participants were grouped into six teams, each tasked with building solutions addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):Group 1 – Farm FoodHub (SDG 2: Zero Hunger)Group 2 – Safe City (SDG 11:Sustainable Cities and Communities) Group 3 – SCHSPARK (SDG 4: Quality Education)Group 4 – PSYCFLO (SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being) Group 5 – Afrihustle (SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth)Group 6 – Skills-Innov8 (SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure)Group 3, SCHSPARK, emerged as the winning team, recognized for their standout solution aimed at improving access to quality education.
The Hackathon welcomed prominent figures including keynote speaker Tutu Ariyo, who shared powerful insights on adaptability in the digital age, and special guest Justyna Kedra, founder of We-Rule, who awarded scholarships to top-performing participants.
The judging panel featured tech leaders Camille Jalandoni, Delyon Lowe, and Keita Dienaba, who evaluated projects on creativity, impact, feasibility, and presentation.
Dr. Aanu Gopald, founder of Africa Agility, commended the participants for their grit and growth stating, “Most of these ladies had no tech or agile skills when they joined just three months ago.
“But in just three weeks, they built powerful, innovative solutions. That’s what happens when you give African girls the right tools: we build, we break barriers, and we blaze trails,” she said.
As the mentorship phase begins in May, GIT 8.0 stands as a testament to what’s possible when young African women are given the opportunity, guidance, and platform to lead. From over 8,000 applicants to over 1,100 empowered graduates, Africa Agility is not just preparing future tech leaders—they’re helping them build the future today.
