In a society where gender roles are still firmly entrenched, one Lagos-based tech academy is helping girls hack into a future previously denied to them. For Sodiq Rukayat Gbemishola, a 25-year-old full-stack development student, learning to code hasn’t just been about acquiring skills, it’s been about reclaiming power.

“Coding made me feel powerful and confident. It’s like saying let there be light and there’s light,” Rukayat says. “I wanted to test my capability and push my limits.”

From resigning her job to borrowing a laptop and enduring weeks without electricity, Rukayat’s path into technology has been anything but easy. But through the support of Moat Academy, she stayed the course.

“I stopped making excuses. I stayed focused, borrowed what I could, and surrounded myself with inspiration and purpose. That mindset kept me going.”

Now, she’s building a digital platform tailored to support Nigerian corps members and IT/SIWES students, offering everything from NYSC state information to skills tracking and lodge connections. It’s a bold, thoughtful solution rooted in empathy and code.

“I used to feel stuck and unsure of my direction, but now I feel powerful. Learning to code has opened my mind to global possibilities.”

Moat Academy’s Mission: Skill, Inclusion, and Representation

At the core of this transformation is Moat Academy, founded to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry-ready skillsets for software development.

While it is open to all genders, the academy has carved a vital role in promoting gender equity.

“Solving human problems with technology necessitates diverse views,” says Abiola Ilupeju, the academy’s Principal Consultant. “By providing opportunities for girls to enter the sector, we ensure that tomorrow’s software reflects the needs and insights of everyone it serves.”

Abiola Ilupeju

But societal conditioning still casts a long shadow.

“The biggest challenge girls face is societal stereotype, that tech is ‘not for girls’ or ‘too hard.’ These biases can kill their confidence before they even start,” she explains.

To counter this, the academy uses representation and history, reminding trainees that the world’s first computer programmer was a woman: Ada Lovelace.

“Seeing a female faculty member also helps them feel they belong,” she adds.

When Talent Meets Opportunity: The Lilian Story

One of the academy’s most inspiring moments came from an unexpected full-circle moment in 2016. Ilupeju came across a viral photo of a young woman standing on the Lekki-Epe Expressway, holding a placard that read she was a Computer Science graduate in desperate need of a job.

“I found this heartbreaking,” Ilupeju recalls. “Once you have the right skills, you shouldn’t have to beg for opportunities, they should find you.”

This image spurred her to repurpose PINKIT, an initiative originally for high school girls, to train unemployed female STEM graduates instead. Backed by the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, the program selected 10 women from over 800 applicants.

“During my closing remarks, I showed that viral photo. Afterwards, one of the participants approached me and said: ‘Do you know you used my picture today?’ I was stunned because it was her. Her name was Lilian.”

Lilian secured a job in cybersecurity just two weeks after graduation and later joined Deloitte, where she continues to grow.

“She’s a shining example of what’s possible when talent meets opportunity and support.”

Breaking Barriers at Home and in Society

Beyond training, Ilupeju admits that female coders still face domestic and cultural hurdles.

“Some girls struggle with household chores or pressure to maintain appearances. We’ve had students miss tasks because of time spent at salons,” she notes. “Technical fields require focus. These distractions can slow down progress.”

Women at Moat Academy coding their way out.

But Moat Academy provides more than training, it creates a supportive ecosystem.

“With a strong support system, both at home and in the academy, I believe these barriers can be overcome.”

“You Belong Here”: A Message to the Next Generation

Ilupeju’s advice to girls considering a future in tech is simple, but powerful:

“Let go of the belief that tech is not for you. It is. All it requires is willingness to learn and the discipline to grow. If you’re curious and committed, there’s a place for you here, whether it’s in coding, design, or innovation.”

For Rukayat, that belief has already become action.

“Tech is not just for men or for those who started early. Start with what you have, ask questions, and don’t let fear hold you back.”

And if her words aren’t enough, her final rallying cry is:

“You deserve to be in every room where change is being made and you can absolutely lead that change.”

This is an entry story submitted by Ilebani Titilayo Olamide for the African Young Media Professionals Women in Journalism training.

The Ondo State government, under Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has finalized plans to deploy a digital payment platform aimed at streamlining tax collection and other government-related payments.

This initiative follows a collaboration between the Ondo State Internal Revenue Service (ODIRS) and BBA Consult Ltd., a consulting firm providing digital financial solutions.

Speaking after a demonstration session at the Governor’s Office in Akure, Governor Aiyedatiwa reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to leveraging technology for improved revenue generation.

“The new platform will not only make tax payment easier but also significantly enhance revenue generation for Ondo State,” he said.

He added that the system would curb revenue leakages, enhance compliance, and create a more transparent and accountable tax structure.

The governor further emphasized that revenue accrued through this system would be invested in infrastructure projects, including roads, healthcare, education, and other essential public services.

“With a more efficient tax and payment system that blocks leakages, the government will have the financial capacity to invest in roads, healthcare facilities, schools, and other essential public services,” he noted.

He encouraged residents and businesses to adopt the digital platform, assuring them of its security, ease of use, and long-term economic benefits for the state.

Seamless Transactions with Unique Taxpayer ID

Speaking on behalf of BBA Consult Ltd., Director Maryam Abisola highlighted the platform’s user-friendly features.

“Every taxpayer in Ondo State will now have a unique taxpayer ID linked to their personal profile, which includes essential details such as phone number, address, and age,” she explained.

She emphasized that the records would remain confidential and accessible only to the individual taxpayer.

Abisola further elaborated on the platform’s functionality, stressing its role in eliminating the bottlenecks associated with manual tax payments while ensuring a seamless and efficient payment process for both citizens and government agencies.

During the live demonstration, the governor became the first taxpayer to generate and pay his tax bill via the platform. The system offers multiple payment options, including:

Card payments

Bank transfers

USSD codes

In-person payments at designated banks

Once a transaction is completed, taxpayers receive a downloadable receipt with a unique verification code. Tax officials can then authenticate payments via the platform, ensuring transparency.

Beyond Tax Payments: A One-Stop Payment Hub

Beyond tax collection, the digital platform serves as a comprehensive payment hub for various government transactions, including:

Commerce and industry permits

Land and housing fees

Billboard advertising charges

Hospital service payments

Natural resource levies

Education fees

Describing it as an all-inclusive solution, Abisola noted that the platform consolidates multiple payment processes into a single, user-friendly system.

Key Officials Present at the Demonstration

Dignitaries present at the event included:

Dr. Taye Fasoranti – Secretary to the State Government

Mrs. Omowumi Isaac – Commissioner for Finance

Dr. Olukayode Ajulo, SAN – Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice

Mr. Bayo Rojugbokan – Chairman, Internal Revenue Service

This digital transformation initiative aligns with Ondo State’s commitment to enhancing the ease of doing business while fostering economic growth.

Wema Bank, Nigeria’s most innovative financial institution and the pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has officially launched the sixth edition of Hackaholics, themed “Beyond Algorithms: Engineering Disruptive Innovation.”

The announcement was made at a press conference in Lagos.

This year’s Hackaholics has been expanded to combine both hackathon and ideathon formats, providing a collaborative platform for developers, designers, business strategists, and problem solvers.

With a strong emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies, Hackaholics 6.0 aims to drive transformative change in industries such as education, healthcare, sustainable agriculture, and financial inclusion.

Introducing the Wema Bank Accelerator Program

A key highlight of Hackaholics 6.0 is the launch of the Wema Bank Accelerator Program, designed to bridge a crucial gap in startup development—funding without strategic support.

This initiative will provide mentorship, funding, and access to strategic networks to help startups scale successfully.

In alignment with Wema Bank’s pan-African growth vision, this edition of Hackaholics will expand beyond Nigeria, engaging tech hubs across Africa.

This expansion aims to foster an innovation ecosystem, connecting African talent and accelerating groundbreaking ideas.

Moruf Oseni, Managing Director and CEO of Wema Bank, shared his vision for Hackaholics 6.0:

“Hackaholics was created to empower Nigeria’s brightest minds to solve real-world problems and drive technological advancements. This year, as we celebrate our 80th anniversary, we are taking it a step further with Hackaholics 6.0. This edition is not just about solving problems; it’s about engineering disruptive innovation that will reshape industries and transform lives.

To support this vision, we are introducing the Wema Bank Accelerator Program, a strategic initiative designed to provide startups with the tools, mentorship, and resources they need to scale and thrive. Hackaholics 6.0 is more than an event; it is a movement to empower the next generation of problem solvers and shape the future of Nigeria and Africa.”

Oseni also outlined how innovators can participate:

“We invite developers, designers, business strategists, and problem solvers from across Africa to join this transformative journey. Whether you are at the ideation stage or already have a market-ready solution, Hackaholics 6.0 and the accelerator program are designed to support you. Visit hackaholics.wemabank.com to apply and be part of this movement to engineer disruptive innovation that addresses real-world challenges and creates lasting impact.”

Testimonial from Hackaholics 5.0 Winner

Ugonna Ginigeme, Co-Founder and CEO of Feegor and grand prize winner of Hackaholics 5.0, shared his experience at the press conference:

“We emerged the winner, The Meta Lord at Hackaholics 5.0. It was a very exciting moment. It still is a very exciting moment for us. At Feegor, we are not just building a Nigerian startup. We are building for the African market. We believe we will be number one. And we are super, super excited to have Wema Bank as a trusted partner for us.

I would like to encourage everybody, every startup, every developer, and everybody who is focused and interested in building an amazing startup to apply. And I assure you that if you have Wema Bank as a partner, success is guaranteed.”

Since its launch in 2019, Hackaholics has been a catalyst for groundbreaking technological solutions, empowering Nigerian innovators to solve pressing challenges.

As Hackaholics 6.0 kicks off, Wema Bank reaffirms its commitment to fostering problem solvers who will reshape Africa’s future.