Nigerian girls shine at global tech summit in India

Five hearing-impaired students of Government Secondary School, Kuje Abuja flew the flag of Nigeria high at the 2026 Technovation Girls World Summit in Bengaluru, India.

Despite competing against thousands of teams from more than 160 countries, they emerged global finalists with an artificial intelligence-powered application designed to improve access to menstrual products.

A statement on Monday by the Technology Beyond Disability Initiative, explained the team, known as the STRIM Girls, presented their innovation, Saving Pad to the applause of the global audience.  

The team, which comprises Adegbile Teniola Vivian, Sulaiman Maryam Adenike Isah, Moses Joy, Ukpapi Theresa Uzepi and Yusuf Ruth, was mentored by the initiative.

The girls developed Saving Pad to help students locate nearby sanitary pad banks, request menstrual products and access menstrual health education, particularly addressing the challenges faced by deaf girls and students with disabilities.

Explaining the motivation behind their innovation, the girls said, “Because when a girl’s period starts, the question should never be: ‘What am I going to do?’ It should be: ‘I know where to go.’”

In partnership with the Deaf Women Aloud Initiative, the team has launched a pilot programme across three special schools in Abuja, with plans to expand to primary healthcare centres and vulnerable communities nationwide.

The platform is also designed to help non-governmental organisations and donor agencies track product distribution, monitor demand and coordinate the restocking of sanitary pad banks.

At the global summit, the girls demonstrated how accessible technology and community-based support could help address menstrual health challenges while advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on good health and well-being, quality education, and partnerships.

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