Interswitch champions future-forward girls in STEM 

Interswitch, has teamed up with Thrive Above and Beyond Foundation to deliver an intensive and transformative STEM education program for young Nigerian girls.

The initiative, aptly titled the THRIVE Girls in STEM Programme, unfolded over the course of seven days in what many have described as a dynamic, immersive, and life-changing bootcamp.

Designed specifically for girls aged 16 to 20 from underserved communities, the program was anything but conventional. Inspired by the Montessori style of hands-on, exploratory learning, the initiative offered participants a rare opportunity to gain practical exposure to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), while being guided by experienced facilitators, innovators, and female role models already thriving in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem.

More than just another short-term training, this program was a deliberate attempt to disrupt systemic barriers that have long excluded girls from the tech narrative. According to UNESCO, women make up only 30% of professionals in STEM-related fields globally, and in sub-Saharan Africa, the percentage is even lower. In Nigeria, the challenge is particularly acute in low-income and rural communities, where girls often lack access to quality education, digital infrastructure, and the mentorship needed to pursue careers in tech.

By bringing STEM directly to these young women, right where they are Interswitch and its partners are not just teaching coding or digital literacy; they are nurturing a generation of innovators, problem-solvers, and confident leaders who can take their place in the digital economy of tomorrow.

“We believe in a prosperous Africa, powered by our youth,” said Yemisi Owonubi, Head of Masterbrand, Communications, and CSR at Interswitch. “Our involvement in the THRIVE Girls in STEM Programme is rooted in our belief that if you want to go far, you invest early and inclusively. This initiative aligns with our broader CSR goals to create platforms that drive innovation, bridge opportunity gaps, and inspire long-term transformation.”

Also speaking on the project, Founder of Thrive Above and Beyond Foundation, Bolaji John, emphasized that the program goes beyond just technical training. “We are not just teaching code. We’re fostering curiosity, confidence, and a vision of leadership. The girls we mentor leave with more than digital skills; they leave with a roadmap to build their future and communities. We want them to know they have a place in shaping the world through technology,” she said.

The bootcamp curriculum was curated to touch on foundational STEM concepts, problem-solving skills, innovation labs, collaborative projects, and digital career readiness. But the most significant part of the experience lay in the environment it created, one that was encouraging, inclusive, and challenging in all the right ways. For many of the girls, this was their first encounter with a laptop or internet-enabled device, yet within a few days, they were building simple apps, exploring artificial intelligence, and even engaging in mock hackathons that simulated real-world tech problems.

Complementing Interswitch’s contribution were key partners like Wema Bank and its digital offering, Sara by Wema. These partners helped to broaden the scope of the program, introducing modules on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and soft skills training, essential components for holistic development in the digital age.

The collaboration exemplifies what is possible when the private sector rises to the challenge of inclusive development. It’s not just about CSR box-ticking. It’s about genuine, long-term investment in people, particularly those who have historically been left out of opportunity pipelines.

In Nigeria’s fast-evolving digital economy, the gender imbalance in tech continues to be a critical development issue. Yet this program proves that progress is possible when major players like Interswitch step into their influence not just as business leaders, but as social architects.

The THRIVE Girls in STEM Programme is not the first of Interswitch’s socially responsible initiatives, and it will certainly not be the last. The company has a rich legacy of investing in education, innovation, and enterprise development. Over the years, it has launched coding competitions, sponsored tech challenges in secondary schools, and offered scholarships to outstanding students in STEM disciplines. But this latest initiative signals a more targeted, inclusive strategy,  one that recognizes that if Africa is to truly harness the transformative power of technology, it must close the gender gap and democratize access to opportunity.

And the ripple effect of such a move cannot be overstated. Studies have shown that when girls are empowered with education and economic opportunity, entire communities benefit. Women invest more in their families, promote health and education, and often become advocates for change within their spheres of influence. A single girl given the tools to succeed in STEM today could easily become the tech entrepreneur, policymaker, or AI ethicist of tomorrow, shaping not just Nigeria’s tech future, but its social and economic trajectory.

What Interswitch and Thrive Above and Beyond Foundation have achieved through this partnership is to plant seeds, not just of code, but of confidence, creativity, and ambition. In doing so, they are challenging stereotypes, rewriting narratives, and building a future where Nigerian girls can thrive not just above and beyond expectations, but above and beyond limitations.

It is hoped that more organizations from banks to telcos, FMCGs to logistics will begin to see such initiatives not as optional niceties but as national imperatives. Because the journey to a prosperous, innovative Nigeria does not lie in exclusive boardrooms or tech hubs alone. It lies in classrooms, grassroots bootcamps, and community centres where young girls are daring to dream in ones and zeros.

Interswitch has sent a clear message: Africa’s greatness will be powered not just by innovation, but by inclusion. And in backing the THRIVE Girls in STEM Programme, they are both investing in young women and the future of the continent.