The Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), in collaboration with the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), the African Studies Program at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and the Everett Program, an Info Tech Social Entrepreneurial training organization from the University of California, Santa Cruz, held the 2018 edition of the Abuja Digital Summer Institute, a free digital training for Young Women.

The maiden edition of the Abuja Digital Summer Institute (ADSI) took place in July 2017 and proved to be a worthwhile venture, as a good number of young ladies improved their digital capacities, leading to the empowerment of these women and an increment of female voices in digital spaces. The institute, which also runs a similar program in Kano State, was designed to provide ICT training and marketable digital skills update for young women.

The 2018 edition of the Abuja Digital Summer Institute took place from 9th July 2018 – 14th July 2018, the training program had a wide curriculum that cut across training on blogging and web management (WordPress), graphic design, digital video editing and photography, tech essentials, filming, the use of basic mobile phone/GSM applications for micro-enterprises, and social media marketing. The workshop also featured lectures from motivational speakers, as result of the fundamental need for women support and self-confidence that really motivates them to improve their livelihoods, socially and economically

The Institute’s objective is to provide real world, practical training in ICT tools that will empower young women to  work in the ICT industry and to start Micro-enterprises that will add value to their communities. The long term goal is to boost northern women’s capacity to participate in and to grow northern economy replicating similar program with the skills acquired by the beneficiaries.