Nigeria | MarBen Foundation
A computer lesson can be more than a skill; it can be a doorway to limitless opportunities. In rural Nigeria, MarBen Foundation is helping women and girls turn digital access into confidence, income, education and leadership.
In rural Nigeria, opportunity is often shaped by access. Women with basic literacy skills remain confined to low-paying work, while students sit for computer-based university entrance exams without ever having used a computer
Through its TECHWOMAN and JAMB Prep-Up initiatives, the MarBen Foundation, with support from UAF‑Africa, under the IGNITE Project, is addressing this divide head-on. By providing hands-on digital training, the organisation is equipping women and students with skills that translate directly into opportunity
The approach is practical and immediate. Women are trained in basic computer literacy and gain certifications that strengthen their employability. Students preparing for the JAMB examination practise navigation, complete mock tests, and build familiarity with the digital environment they will face on exam day.
The Change: For Mrs Ruth, who was already a teacher, a step above what most women achieve in the community, completing the TECHWOMAN digital training opened the door to a better-paying job and increased stability. For Halima, it removed fear from a high-stakes exam, replacing uncertainty with confidence.
“Sitting in front of the computer, I was not afraid. I knew exactly how to move and click through the exam,” Halima
The impact extends beyond individuals. Mrs Ruth is now an advocate for women’s education and is raising a daughter who sees a future of endless possibilities as the default. Women like Mrs Ruth are challenging long-held beliefs about gender roles, while young girls trained through the programme, like Halima, are gaining access to higher education and sharing knowledge with their peers – creating ripple effects across communities. The 225 girls initially reached by the IGNITE HER programme are doing the same: extending their impact to hundreds of peers and building a peer-led movement on girls’ education.
“I am showing my daughter what is possible if you believe in yourself.” Mrs Ruth
For UAF‑Africa, investing in digital literacy is about expanding access to education, strengthening economic power, and enabling women and girls to shape their own futures. Closing the digital and economic opportunity gap for women and girls requires sustained investment to expand access to digital literacy programmes and unlock pathways to limitless opportunities.
