By Juliet Umeh
In a bold move to bridge the gender gap in technology, Lilac Africa, an education technology institute, has launched a strategic initiative aimed at empowering 10,000 girls through its personalized, community-driven learning model.
The announcement was made during the organization’s fundraising campaign, themed “Her Dreams, Her Actions, Her Legacy”, held in alignment with the 2025 International Women’s Day theme, “Taking Action.”
Speaking at the event, Co-founder of Lilac Africa, Kachi Kalu, revealed that the program is a direct response to troubling disparities in the tech space. “After training over 3,000 people in UI/UX design, we found that while 90% of male participants progressed, only 5% of women did. This discrepancy drove us to build a tailored model that boosts confidence, addresses social barriers, and empowers women to lead,” Kalu said.
Lilac Africa’s model merges informal learning with mentorship, networking, and leadership development. It offers structured programs through four core schools:
School of Product – Product Design and Management
School of Engineering – Cybersecurity, Data Science, Software Development
School of Design – Brand and Illustrator Design
School of Tech Business Leadership – Entrepreneurial leadership programs
Courses range from short on-demand modules to year-long degrees, catering to varied learning preferences.
Highlighting the economic potential of women in tech, Kalu added: “With less than 20% of girls in Nigeria having access to digital devices at home, this contributes significantly to youth unemployment. By investing in women, we’re not just creating equality—we’re unlocking Africa’s potential to grow its GDP by up to $316 billion.”
The one-billion-naira fundraiser will support training programs, digital devices, and accessible innovation hubs nationwide.
Notable guests at the launch included Melanie Ayoola, Group Executive Director of Marketing and Sales at Tranter IT; Joynel Ogbogu, Co-founder of UXWA; and Precious Adeshina-Ola, Head of Growth at Supplias.
Lilac Africa’s Co-founder, Bolutife Awakan, emphasized the long-term vision: “We’re building a future where African women are not just present in tech—they’re leading it. Our goal is to foster confidence, community, and competence.”
Testifying to the impact, alumna Lynda Jirigho, now a Product Designer at Blumefy, shared: “Lilac Africa transformed my life. Beyond technical skills, I gained the confidence and support system I needed to thrive.”
