By STELLAMARIS ASHINZE

Moniepoint Inc., Africa’s fastest-growing digital financial services provider, has opened applications for its 2026 Women in Tech internship programme, now in its sixth year.

Head of People Operations, Chinaza Nduka-Dike, told journalists in Lagos on Tuesday the initiative tackles Nigeria’s gender gap in technology.

Nduka-Dike said women comprised just 25 per cent of the workforce, in spite of representing nearly half the population and 22 per cent of annual STEM graduates.

She said Moniepoint had spent five years expanding access and mentorship for women in the technology sector.

According to her, the programme returns with the theme, :There Is Space for You,’ inviting ambitious women nationwide to access opportunities despite existing barriers.

“Through the Women in Tech programme, we are not just inspiring inclusion; we are actively creating sustainable pathways for women to thrive in tech.

“There is space for the next generation, and we are ready for them,” she said.

Nduka-Dike said the 2026 edition expanded roles across high-demand fields, including Cloud Engineering, Data Engineering, Product Management, Mobile Development, Site Reliability, and Information Security.

She said participants would receive competitive salaries, work tools, branded merchandise, and mentorship from experienced practitioners, with top performers considered for full-time roles.

She added that past interns, including Uzoamaka Anyaegbuna, Adaeze Ugwumba, Iyinoluwa Akenroye, Loveth Abang, and Bisola Abimbola, had become full-time “DreamMakers”.

A former intern, Bisola Abimbola, described her experience as hands-on, with real project ownership from day one, preparing her for leadership.

Nduka-Dike said the 2026 launch coincided with the close of women’s month, reflecting Moniepoint’s commitment to UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 on Gender Equality.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that applications opened on Monday and are available to women across the country. (NAN)

•PHOTO, L-R: Iyinoluwa Akenroye, Loveth Abang, Adaeze Ugwumba, Bisola Abimbola and Uzoamaka Anyaegbuna, alumni of the Moniepoint Women in Tech internship in Lagos.