By Stanley Iwuoha
Nigeria is taking significant steps to bridge the gender digital divide, particularly with the launch of the National Gender Digital Inclusion Strategy (NGDIS) at the United Nations 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69).
This strategy, developed by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs (FMWA), aims to promote equitable access to digital technology, online safety, and economic empowerment for women and children
The NGDIS is built on five core pillars that will drive women’s access, participation, and leadership in the digital ecosystem. It seeks to expand digital literacy and skills by ensuring at least 40% female participation in all national training initiatives.
The strategy also emphasizes access to funding, mentorship, and technical assistance for female-led startups, leveraging the Nigeria Startup Act to increase financial and institutional support for women in the tech ecosystem.
Furthermore, the NGDIS prioritizes online safety and cybersecurity awareness, recognizing that 58% of young women globally experience online harassment. The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman, emphasized the urgent need for action in tackling gender disparities in digital access, highlighting that 68% of Nigerian women do not own smartphones.
Other organizations, such as Tech Herfrica, are also working to bridge the digital divide in Nigeria.
They provide digital literacy training, access to smartphones, and financial inclusion services to rural women, helping them to improve their economic empowerment and participation in the digital economy.
Speaking at the event, Ikilimi Musa Salihu, Special Assistant to the Director General on Strategic Partnerships, presented the strategy, emphasizing NITDA’s role in driving digital transformation and creating opportunities for women and girls to actively participate in the digital economy.
The NGDIS, developed in alignment with Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 5 and 8, seeks to remove barriers to digital inclusion by expanding access to digital skills training, infrastructure, and mentorship opportunities for women and girls.
In his remarks, the Director General of NITDA Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, represented by the SA, reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to ensuring that Nigeria’s digital transformation is inclusive and equitable, highlighting NGDIS as a game-changer in achieving gender parity in the digital space.
He noted that the framework prioritizes digital literacy, entrepreneurship, safety, and gender-responsive policies to accelerate women’s participation in Nigeria’s growing digital economy.
According to him, the NGDIS is built on five core pillars that will drive women’s access, participation, and leadership in the digital ecosystem. It seeks to expand digital literacy and skills by ensuring at least 40% female participation in all national training initiatives.
Recognizing the role of women in Nigeria’s innovation and entrepreneurship landscape, the strategy emphasizes access to funding, mentorship, and technical assistance for female-led startups, leveraging the Nigeria Startup Act to increase financial and institutional support for women in the tech ecosystem.
With 58% of young women globally experiencing online harassment, the NGDIS prioritizes online safety and cybersecurity awareness.
Speaking at the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman, underscored the urgent need for action in tackling gender disparities in digital access.
Sulaiman revealed alarming statistics that demonstrate the stark reality of the digital divide in Nigeria, highlighting that 68% of Nigerian women do not own smartphones, making it difficult for them to access online services and economic opportunities.
She stressed that this divide extends beyond access, as women and children face significant online risks, including cyber harassment, digital gender-based violence, and exclusion from the rapidly growing tech-driven economy.
The minister called for the swift implementation of the National Gender Digital Inclusion Strategy (NGDIS) 2024-2027, which seeks to remove the structural barriers that prevent women from fully engaging in the digital economy.
She urged all stakeholders to work together to transform digital access and security for women and children, making technology a tool for empowerment rather than exclusion.
The National Gender Digital Inclusion Strategy is a blueprint for action, providing a clear framework for accelerating digital inclusion, fostering entrepreneurship, and strengthening online safety for Nigerian women and children.
The side event at CSW69 ended with a resounding call to action, urging stakeholders to work collectively to bridge the gender digital divide, expand opportunities for women in technology, and create a safe, inclusive, and thriving digital ecosystem.
Overall, Nigeria’s efforts to bridge the gender digital divide are crucial for promoting equitable access to digital technology, online safety, and economic empowerment for women and children.
