Interswitch Partners Thrive Foundation to Equip Young Girls with Life-Changing STEM Skills

Interswitch Partners Thrive Foundation to Equip Young Girls with Life-Changing STEM Skills

Lagos, Nigeria – July 30, 2025 | Interswitch, Africa’s leading technology-driven company, has partnered with nonprofit organization Thrive Above and Beyond Foundation to deliver a transformative STEM education programme for young girls, reinforcing its commitment to digital literacy, youth empowerment, and gender inclusion in tech.

The initiative, tagged THRIVE Girls in STEM Programme, was a 7-day intensive bootcamp designed to equip female students aged 16–20 with hands-on digital and technological skills. The programme targeted girls from underserved communities, aiming to bridge the gender gap in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields across Nigeria.

The immersive training, conducted in a Montessori-style learning format, featured learner-centred sessions on key digital topics, including data organization, HTML basics, interactive web design, web accessibility, and optimization techniques. Participants were also provided with tech starter kits, smart devices, and internet-enabled resources to aid their development.

The bootcamp culminated in a final project showcase, where the girls presented real-world tech solutions, applying what they had learned to solve everyday problems. The experience not only deepened their knowledge but also boosted their confidence as budding innovators.

Speaking on the initiative, Yemisi Owonubi, Head of Masterbrand, Communications and CSR at Interswitch, said:

“At Interswitch, we believe in a prosperous Africa powered by its youth. We are proud to support initiatives like this that equip young girls with critical STEM skills and help close the gender gap in technology. This partnership aligns with our CSR priorities, and we remain committed to investing in platforms that shape the innovators and problem-solvers of tomorrow.”

Founder of Thrive Above and Beyond Foundation, Bolaji John, emphasized the programme’s broader impact.

“The THRIVE Girls in STEM Programme is about more than just coding. It’s about sparking curiosity, building confidence, and empowering leadership. We want girls, especially from marginalized backgrounds, to see STEM as a space where they belong—and where they can thrive.”

The programme was also supported by Wema Bank and Sara by Wema, who contributed to its resource provision and capacity-building goals.

This partnership is the latest in a series of youth-focused initiatives driven by Interswitch, which continues to champion inclusive education through flagship programmes such as InterswitchSPAK, a continent-wide STEM competition that identifies and supports the brightest young minds across Africa.

To learn more about Thrive Above and Beyond Foundation and its programmes, visit their website or follow @thriveaboveandbeyond on social media.