News Highlights:
- NITDA and FMWA launched the National Gender Digital Inclusion Strategy (NGDIS) at CSW69 to promote equitable access to digital technology for women and children.
- The strategy focuses on digital literacy, entrepreneurship, online safety, and gender-responsive policies to empower women in Nigeria’s growing digital economy.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs (FMWA), has unveiled the National Gender Digital Inclusion Strategy (NGDIS) at the United Nations 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69).
Themed “Digital Harmony: Advancing Gender Inclusion by Empowering Women and Children for a Secure Digital Future,” the event reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to fostering equitable access to digital technology, ensuring online safety, and promoting economic empowerment for women and children.
Digital TimesNG reports that at the event, Iklima Musa Salihu, Special Assistant to NITDA’s Director General on Strategic Partnerships, presented the strategy, underscoring NITDA’s commitment to digital transformation and the creation of opportunities for women and girls in the digital economy.
The NGDIS, aligned with Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 5 and 8, aims to dismantle barriers to digital inclusion by enhancing access to digital skills training, infrastructure, and mentorship programs for women and girls.
Salihu who represented the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, emphasized that the Agency is dedicated to ensuring an inclusive and equitable digital transformation, and highlighted NGDIS as a pivotal initiative in advancing gender parity within the digital space, with a focus on digital literacy, entrepreneurship, safety, and gender-responsive policies to drive women’s participation in Nigeria’s digital economy.
NGDIS is built on five core pillars designed to enhance women’s access, participation, and leadership in the digital sector. The strategy aims to boost digital literacy and skills by ensuring at least 40% female participation in national training programs.
Recognizing the critical role of women in Nigeria’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, the strategy prioritizes access to funding, mentorship, and technical assistance for female-led startups. It leverages the Nigeria Startup Act to enhance financial and institutional support for women in the tech industry. Additionally, with 58% of young women globally experiencing online harassment, the NGDIS places a strong emphasis on online safety and cybersecurity awareness.
Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman, highlighted the urgent need to address gender disparities in digital access. She cited concerning statistics, revealing that 68% of Nigerian women do not own smartphones, limiting their access to online services and economic opportunities.
Beyond accessibility, she emphasized the significant risks women and children face online, including cyber harassment, digital gender-based violence, and exclusion from the expanding tech-driven economy.
She called for the swift implementation of the National Gender Digital Inclusion Strategy (NGDIS) 2024-2027, which aims to eliminate structural barriers preventing women from fully engaging in the digital economy.
While stressing the need for robust legal frameworks, she advocated for policies that promote digital literacy, establish safe online environments, and empower women to thrive in technology-driven industries.
Reaffirming the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, she urged stakeholders to collaborate in transforming digital access and security for women and children, making technology an instrument of empowerment rather than exclusion.
As the world embraces the Fourth Industrial Revolution, NITDA and its partners are taking decisive steps to ensure that women and girls are not just participants but leaders in digital transformation. The National Gender Digital Inclusion Strategy serves as a blueprint for action, offering a structured approach to accelerating digital inclusion, fostering entrepreneurship, and enhancing online safety for Nigerian women and children.
The CSW69 side event concluded with a powerful call to action, urging stakeholders to unite in bridging the gender digital divide, expanding opportunities for women in technology, and creating a safe, inclusive, and thriving digital ecosystem for all.
