Pop-Up Lab 2.0 Abuja: A Look Back at Two Days of Data Science

Classroom on the Move Arrives in Abuja

On 16 and 17 October 2026, the SWIS Hub Pop-Up Innovation Lab travelled to Abuja for its second edition. After a first lab in Lagos in August, Pop-Up Lab 2.0 brought young women together for two days built around one theme: Data Science and its Application.

The Pop-Up Innovation Labs are a core part of SWIS Hub, an initiative of SWIS Africa (Shaping African Women in STEM) that takes hands-on STEM learning to young women in cities across Nigeria. Each lab is designed to give participants practical skills they can keep building on long after the event ends.

Day 1: Building a Foundation in Data Science

Day 1 opened the door to the world of Data Science. Led by facilitator Agada Queen, participants were introduced to the fundamentals of Data Science and Python, the programming language behind much of today's data work.

From there, the room moved from concepts to practice. Participants learnt how to work in Google Colab, a browser-based space for writing and running Python code, and took their first steps in data cleaning and analysis. Together, they explored how raw data is prepared, organised and examined so that it can begin to tell a story.

It was a day of learning and discovery, and it gave every participant a strong foundation for the journey ahead.

Day 2: From Skills to Application

On Day 2, facilitator Lilian Opara Charles guided participants in building on what they had learnt, carrying the lab's theme of Data Science and its Application forward and connecting new skills to how data can be used to understand and solve real problems.

More Than a Workshop

Beyond the sessions themselves, Pop-Up Lab 2.0 was about curiosity, creativity and connection. Participants left with practical skills, but also with new perspectives on what technology makes possible and how they might use it to solve real-world problems.

For many young women, a first encounter with code or data can feel intimidating. Labs like this one create a supportive space to ask questions, try things out and see that a career in STEM is within reach. That shift in confidence is as important as any technical skill learnt over the two days.

We celebrate the enthusiasm, growth and shared experiences that made this edition so memorable, and we are grateful to our facilitators and everyone who helped bring it to life.

This Is Just the Beginning

Abuja marks another step on the SWIS Hub journey, and the Pop-Up Innovation Labs will keep travelling to new cities to reach more young women with hands-on learning in STEM, innovation and digital skills.

We look forward to creating more opportunities for young women to learn, innovate and thrive. Stay connected with SWIS Hub at myswishub.com and follow along for updates on the next Pop-Up Lab.