African Girls Get New Coding Opportunity as the Keyboard Becomes the New Classroom

A new technology Opportunity programme is opening another digital door for African girls, and this time the invitation comes with Python, mentorship and the rather revolutionary idea that girls can actually build technology instead of merely using it. SPARK Tech Africa, founded by Nigerian student Camille Ananyi, has opened applications for its second annual cohort, offering a free five-month programme for African girls aged 11 to 16, including beginners with no previous coding experience.

The programme is scheduled to run from January to May 2027. Participants will begin with self-paced Python lessons before moving into independent technology projects supported by mentors. Applications opened on September 1 and are scheduled to close on October 17, with places limited.

Python Walks Into the Classroom, and the Girls Are Not Running Away

Under the programme, participants are expected to spend about two to three hours each week learning and developing their skills. They need basic computer knowledge, a laptop and reliable internet access, but previous programming experience is not required. In other words, the dreaded question of “Do you already know how to code?” has been politely shown the exit door.

The programme will move from lessons between January and March to individual projects from April to mid-May, ending with presentations where participants demonstrate what they have created and the problems their projects are designed to solve. SPARK says its first cohort helped demonstrate that girls who were simply curious about technology could progress to building projects of their own when given structured support.

African’s Digital Future May Need More Girls Behind the Keyboard

The initiative arrives amid wider efforts to address the digital skills gap affecting girls and young women across Africa. UN Women, the African Union Commission and the International Telecommunication Union have operated the African Girls Can Code Initiative, which uses coding camps and education programmes to encourage girls to pursue ICT-related studies and careers.

The need remains significant. UNICEF data shows that programming skills remain uncommon among adolescent girls and young women in countries with available data, while girls frequently face a digital-skills gap compared with boys. Other current initiatives, including UNICEF-supported digital learning programmes in Nigeria and technology training efforts across Africa, are also attempting to widen access to digital education.

So, while Africa continues debating who should control the digital future, a new generation of girls is being invited to learn how to write the instructions themselves. The bigger challenge may now be ensuring that opportunity does not stop at the application form, but reaches girls with limited devices, expensive internet connections and fewer technology resources. OGM News NG will continue watching this developing story and the young African coders who may soon have the continent debugging its biggest problems.