Progress Ajanaku is a certified Sustainable Development Goals advocate and the visionary founder of Girls Go Digital Africa, a community-based initiative transforming the lives of girls and women in Nigeria’s most underserved rural communities. While most digital empowerment programs focus on cities and periurban areas, Progress has made it her mission to ensure that no girl is left behind.
Progress’s vision is clear and compelling: digital literacy is not a luxury, it is a lifeline. In communities where electricity is unreliable and internet access is scarce, girls are too often excluded from the tools and opportunities they need to succeed in the 21st century.
Through her organization, she is changing that reality by providing practical and culturally relevant training in basic computer skills and internet navigation, online safety and responsible digital citizenship, and the effective use of digital tools to support schoolwork and learning. She also introduces girls to coding and problem solving, opening doors to creativity and innovation. In addition, the program equips them with digital entrepreneurship skills, including online marketing and the use of small business tools for economic empowerment.
Each initiative is thoughtfully tailored to local languages and cultural contexts, ensuring that every girl has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive in today’s digital world.
“We cannot talk about a digital future if the girls in our villages cannot even imagine themselves in it,” Progress says. “My goal is to make sure rural girls have the skills, confidence, and resources to claim their space in the digital world.”
Her work goes far beyond teaching technology. Girls Go Digital Africa fosters economic empowerment by helping women use the internet to grow their businesses. Girls are building digital tools to solve local problems, managing online ventures, and becoming role models in their communities. Progress is addressing one of the most critical development challenges in Nigeria, the digital divide that leaves rural communities behind.
The journey, however, has not been without its challenges. Funding is one of the greatest hurdles for community-based organizations like Girls Go Digital Africa. Many rural programs struggle to secure consistent support, making it difficult to scale operations, reach more villages, or provide sustained mentorship. Progress emphasizes that community-based organizations are the backbone of inclusive development, but they need resources, partnerships, and investment to reach their full potential.
As a certified SDG advocate, Progress’s vision aligns directly with global development goals, including quality education, gender equality, and reduced inequalities. By equipping girls with digital skills, she is opening doors for individuals while contributing to broader community growth, resilience, and sustainable development.
Through determination, mentorship, and hands-on community engagement, Progress Ajanaku is proving that the digital revolution is not only for cities. It is a movement that belongs to every girl in every village who is ready to claim her future. With the right support and investment, organizations like hers can ensure that rural communities are not left behind in the digital age.
