Breaking Barriers: 47 Girls Graduate from CIHP’s STEM Hub!

The Center for Integrated Health Programs (CIHP) proudly hosted the graduation ceremony of 47 young girls from the STEM Hub, marking a significant milestone in empowering the next generation of female tech leaders. This ceremony follows the inaugural graduation, which saw 17 girls successfully complete their training in January.

The event was graced by Dr Bolanle Oyeledun, (CEO, CIHP), as well as other esteemed guests, including Dr. Ibrahim Dalhatu, the Strategic Information and Surveillance lead at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), members of the CIHP board (Dr Oluwatoyin Smith and Dr Collins Imarhiagbe) and the Executive Directors of several of the OVC CBOs partnering with CIHP in Lagos state. Also, in attendance were beneficiaries from CIHP’s Young Achievers Program (YAP), Adolescent and Young People (AYP) hub located in Mushin and other CIHP staff.

Dr. Dalhatu expressed his satisfaction with CIHP’s efforts and emphasized the importance of supporting the girls’ long-term success.

In his words,

“I am impressed with what CIHP has achieved through the PEPFAR program, that has to do with building capacity of youths in the community, and building their tech capacity and soft skills to be able to survive financially in the society”

-Dr Ibrahim Dalhatu, Director, Strategic Information and Surveillance, CDC.

The girls expressed their heartfelt gratitude to CIHP and CDC for the invaluable opportunity to acquire coding and digital creation skills. The STEM Hub continues to be a beacon of hope and empowerment for young women in Nigeria, providing them with the tools and confidence to excel in the tech industry.

Here is what some of the Girls had to say:       

“I have always had an interest in coding but never pursued it seriously until I discovered the STEM Hub. Despite my inexperience in coding, I started with basic HTML and CSS, along the way, I encountered numerous challenges, from debugging errors to grasping advanced concepts, but each obstacle only fueled my determination to learn more, Now, I have strong coding skills and understand the importance of financial literacy and life skills.”

-Ike Peace.

“I learned about the STEM hub from my twin sister. Initially skeptical, I gave it a try and fell in love with photography. The hub helped me overcome low self-esteem and anger issues, provided mentorship, and taught me digital skills. Now, I’m a graphic designer and voice-over actor, grateful for this incredible journey of self-discovery and continuous learning.”-

Kehinde Olokundu

“Despite my passion for coding, I lacked the skills. A friend introduced me to the SHE STEM Hub. I wasn’t accepted initially, but I joined the second cohort. At the STEM Hub, I learned coding, financial literacy, and life skills. With support from my instructor and peers, I overcame challenges in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Now, I am confidently entering the tech world, thanks to CIHP and CDC.”

-Christopher Princess

“Before joining the STEM hub, I struggled with public speaking, which affected me a lot. A friend introduced me to the hub, where life skills, mental health, and financial literacy classes helped me become better. As a digital creation student, I now make money from designing posters, flyers, and logos for small businesses. This led to managing an organization’s social media remotely. Thanks to the STEM hub, CIHP, and CDC for this incredible opportunity“-Owoyele Funmilayo

CIHP remains committed to supporting these bright minds and ensuring their continued growth and success.

To see some of the mind-blowing capstone these girls created, click this link