The SustainHERbility Tech Academy (STA) Exhibition was more than bringing students and stakeholders into the same room or hosting another routine event. It was a moment to spotlight forty rural girls who pushed the boundaries of innovation. What began in September 2024 blossomed into an inspiring showcase of excellence.
Over nine weeks, the girls journeyed through the STA curriculum, tackling key topics, breaking gender stereotypes, and building the confidence to create. They learned to design mobile apps, solve real-world problems, and think critically. The exhibition became the platform where all their hard work came alive.
On May 9, 2025, the first phase of the Tech Exhibition, hosted at the American Corner, Jericho, Ibadan, marked a bold new direction for girls stepping confidently into technology.
The event opened with participant registration, followed by a welcome address from TSDI’s Executive Director, Binuyo Olutomiwa.
Guests, dignitaries, and partners were recognized shortly after, including keynote speaker Angela Solomon, Theirworld’s Senior Advisor for Innovation. She set an inspiring tone for the day, emphasizing the need for increased investment in girls’ education and digital empowerment.
As the app demos began, the room shifted from excitement to admiration. One after another, schools presented their final projects, each rooted in real challenges, from reducing school dropout rates to expanding lifelong learning opportunities. Below is a brief illustration of the apps created:
BAC (Being At the Center) – Big Apple School
A mindfulness app supporting mental health and emotional regulation.
FuturePath – Covenant College, Ibadan
A study platform featuring JAMB, WAEC, and NABTEB past questions, plus downloadable PDFs for offline learning.
ECD Learns – Bibiire Comprehensive College
A digital learning tool designed for early childhood education.
STEAMSpark – Nawarudeen High School, Abeokuta
A gamified learning app covering STEAM subjects through quests, quizzes, and interactive challenges.
After taking the audience through the purpose and features of their apps, the girls participated in a panel discussion where they shared their experiences, an inspiring moment that deeply resonated with everyone, especially students, present.
The day also featured the announcement of the SmartED Essay Competition winners:
• 1st Place: Odulate Ideraoluwa Taiwo (Regal New Heights College)
• 2nd Place: Lanre Alimi Oluwalanoayo (Advanced Breed Group of Schools)
• 3rd Place: Adejumobi Esther (St. Louis Grammar School)
By the end of the presentations, the apps reflected clear insight and fresh thinking. More importantly, the girls radiated confidence, confidence that they could achieve anything they set their minds to, confidence that digital education is not a “boy’s field,” and confidence that they can create, innovate, and lead.
Even after the event ended, its momentum continued. Inspired by what they had learned and proud of their skills, students from Nawairudeen Grammar School, Ogun State, requested a second exhibition to be organized in their school for peers who couldn’t attend the exhibition in Ibadan.
This led to the final phase of the STA Exhibition, held on July 9, 2025, at Nawairudeen Grammar School. Once again, the girls took center stage, presenting their school-specific app and inspiring their peers to dream and pursue careers in the tech space. As TSDI’s Executive Director noted, “This is not just a tech exhibition; it is the beginning of a journey toward equity, inclusion, and innovation.”
Indeed, it truly was the beginning of a journey, one TSDI is wholly committed to. And one we invite other stakeholders to join, because when we invest in girls, we invest in nations.
Watch one of the media spotlight of the event from BCOS, below.
