In Lagos this weekend, Olori Dr. Temitope Enitan-Ogunwusi—Deputy Convener of the Hopes Alive Initiative for Africa (HAI) and wife of Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi—spoke plainly and powerfully to a group of 60 young women graduating from the “SheLevate Tech Digital Empowerment Bootcamp”. Her message? Stop doubting yourself. Grab tech skills. Build Africa.
At the bootcamp graduation, themed “Empowered to Lead: Women Shaping Africa’s Digital Future”, the participants were trained in UI/UX design, front- and back-end development, data analytics, WordPress web design and digital marketing. The programme was organised by HAI and supported by the French Embassy in Nigeria through the FEF-OSC Grant. (ThisDayLive)
Olori Temitope didn’t mince words. She told the graduates they are “the best the world has ever produced,” and challenged them to go out and do the “impossible things people think cannot be done.” “You have the knowledge; it’s been imparted into you. Keep shining,” she affirmed. (ThisDayLive)
From Royal House to Tech Frontline
Her remarks also paid tribute to her husband, the Ooni of Ife, who she credited as the “brain behind HAI” and whose commitment to humanitarian work fuels her own. She said: “Sometimes I tell him he’s doing too much, and he tells me, ‘This is the essence of my birth.’” Gratitude spilled comfortably in her reflections. (ThisDayLive)
She spoke as someone straddling culture, royalty and modern empowerment—but she spoke to young women who aren’t waiting for permission.
The Movement Begins, Not Ends
The Project Manager of the bootcamp, Mr. Akapo Olusegun, emphasised that this graduation isn’t the end of a programme—it’s the start of a movement built on resilience, creativity, hope. Graduates were told: wear your certificate like a badge, now go build solutions. (ThisDayLive)
The guest speaker, Mrs. Eno Essien (CEO of Rheytrack Limited), stressed that tech isn’t just about coding. Combine your tech chops—UI/UX, data analytics, digital marketing—with empathy and purpose and you move from job-seekers to change-leaders. “Tech is not about gender; success is about grit, growth and grace,” she declared. (ThisDayLive)
Government Adds Its Own Push
Not left out, the Hon. Mobolaji Ogunlende, Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, told the graduates: own your achievement, walk into your future with confidence and determination. He pointed out that AI, automation, cloud computing are here—and women must go claim what’s theirs. “You have opportunities and choices. The choices you make determine your future,” he said. (ThisDayLive)
Also worth noting: the graduates, now equipped with essential digital skills, were told they can apply for employment within the state’s structures—and potentially contribute directly to Lagos’s development. (ThisDayLive)
The Real Deal: Skills, Awards & Reality
The event highlighted outstanding participants who distinguished themselves with creativity, innovation and excellence in their projects. They took home laptops and cash gifts—tangible recognition for their work. (ThisDayLive)
So this wasn’t just a fancy ceremony. It was a clear signal: talent + tools + ambition = impact. The organisers, the graduates, the supporters are placing women at the digital frontier.
Why It Matters
Here’s what’s at stake: Africa’s digital future is being shaped now. If women aren’t included, we lose. But when they’re equipped, supported and visible—then things shift. And this bootcamp under HAI, backed by international support, shows that this matters.
Young women trained in digital skills are not only prepared for jobs—they are prepared for innovation, leadership, mentorship, ripple-effects.
Royalty, status, titles aside—Olori Temitope’s message was blunt: Stop waiting for a “seat at the table”. Build the table. Carry the chair. Lead the room.
As the graduates step out into the tech world, the watchword here is action. This was never about optics or photo-ops. It was declaration and deployment.
The question now: Will they move? Will they create, mentor others, build Africa’s digital economy? The foundation has been laid. The ball is in their court.