By Juliet Umeh

In a bid to address the gender gap in the technology ecosystem, education tech institute Lilac Africa has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering women through a unique approach focused on community building and personalized learning styles.

The organization emphasized that its empowerment model is tailored to suit the personalities of young, ambitious women.

Explaining the inspiration behind the initiative, Co-founder of Lilac Africa, Kachi Kalu, said: “Lilac Africa began as a response to the need for a tech school for women. After training about 3,000 individuals in UI/UX design, we conducted a survey and found that 90 percent of male participants were advancing in design, compared to only five percent of females.

“When we investigated further, we discovered that lack of confidence, limited opportunities, self-doubt, and social and cultural biases were holding women back. Our focus was on addressing these challenges and creating a lasting solution.

“This strategy aligns with research from UN Women, which consistently shows that communities centered on women’s advancement significantly boost personal and professional development. 

“Such communities foster confidence, enhance leadership skills, provide access to opportunities, and create positive societal impact by offering mentorship, networking, and support systems to address gender-specific challenges.

“Our programme adopts an informal learning structure, emphasizing personalized education, retention, and a sense of belonging. This community-focused model allows women to apply their learning to real-life needs while building strong social connections.”

In alignment with the International Women’s Day 2025 theme, “Taking Action”, Lilac Africa launched a fundraiser titled “Her Dreams, Her Actions, Her Legacy”. The goal was to introduce new investors and partners to the initiative, which aims to raise one billion naira and empower 10,000 girls in tech.

“With less than one in five girls in Nigeria having access to a digital device at home—contributing to 60 percent of unemployed youths—Lilac Africa highlights a smart economic opportunity for investors, with the potential to increase Africa’s GDP by $316 billion,” Kalu said.

The funds raised will go toward training, setting up accessible innovation hubs, and providing devices for empowerment.

Attendees at the fundraiser 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, among others.

Lilac Africa offers various faculties, including: The School of Product, covering Product Design and Product Management

The School of Engineering, with courses like Cybersecurity, Data Science, and Software Development

The School of Design, offering Brand Design and Illustrator Design

The School of Tech Business Leadership, which provides advanced programs for aspiring tech entrepreneurs

These tracks include short on-demand courses, four-month nano-degrees, and year-long full degrees—designed to match diverse learning needs and student preferences.

Co-founder Bolutife Awakan added:

 “At Lilac, we’re committed to raising the next generation of female tech leaders in Africa. We want to see more women thrive in tech, not falter or give up. By strengthening their minds, confidence, and networks, we aim to replicate the successes we’ve achieved in our careers.”

One of the organization’s beneficiaries, Lynda Jirigho, a product designer at Blumefy, shared her experience: “Lilac Africa has been pivotal in transforming my career. The comprehensive education and support I received not only equipped me with essential skills and knowledge but also significantly boosted my confidence. This experience has empowered me to achieve both professional success and personal growth.”