The Webfala Digital Skills for All Initiative (WDSFAI), a nonprofit organisation, has successfully empowered 20 young women from underserved communities in Kwara State through its flagship program, the SheGrows Digital Bootcamp.

The 10 week bootcamp was specifically designed to tackle the socio-economic barriers faced by these young women. It achieved this by equipping them with the essential business, digital, and soft skills relevant to today's competitive job market.

Supported by the Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC), the program also aimed to create a sustainable platform for young women to break the cycle of poverty, reduce their dependence on external financial aid, and take decisive control of their futures.

Speaking at the participants' graduation ceremony, the organisation's Executive Director, Nafisat Bakare, highlighted the program's structure. She said the initiative provided the participants with structured training sessions, crucial mentorship, and hands on learning activities designed to build the competencies that would position them for either self employment or integration into the formal workforce.

"The SheGrows Digital Bootcamp was created to empower girls and young women in underserved communities with digital, business, and life skills that enhance their employability, promote self-reliance, and foster long-term economic empowerment.

"Over the course of the training, participants received practical instruction in areas such as social media management and advertising, graphic design, and essential life skills.

"Through group activities, interactive sessions, and personal assessments, they acquired foundational knowledge that can be directly applied to entrepreneurial or employment opportunities," she said.

Bakare added that the initiative would enable the beneficiaries to either secure decent jobs or start and scale their own ventures, thereby accessing economic opportunities, improving their livelihoods, and achieving financial independence.