As part of its activities to commemorate the 2023 International Women’s Day, The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, has stated that the Federal Government’s strategic objective of bridging the digital gender gap, in line with the implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), is yielding positive results toward the development of digital economy in Nigeria.
The DG made this statement while declaring open, the ‘One-Day Free Training on Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship’ in Abuja for the international womens day Celebration.
The event’s theme, “Digital Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality,” was aimed at training women between the ages of 18 and 30 on Digital Marketing and 3D printing.
Inwua was represented by Dr. Usman Gambo Abdullahi, Director of IT Infrastructure Solutions, He noted that the policy implementation was increasingly recording success by ensuring that the digital skills training program incorporated children, women, internally displaced persons, and the physically challenged.
Stressing that women are the best teachers of digital transformation and education, and the agency had taken many steps to drive the nation’s prosperity to boost digital innovation for women thereby creating an enabling environment that maximizes the potential of women in the country.
He affirmed that Nigeria’s female population was about 104 million, and the country had much to gain by facilitating the inclusion of women in the technological industry and bridging the digital gender divide.
“In 2021, the United Nations estimated that Nigeria’s female population was about 104 million out of it’s over 220 people. As Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria has much to gain by facilitating the inclusion of women in the technological industry and bridging the digital gender divide,” he added.
Inuwa also disclosed that the Agency has implemented several strategic programs and initiatives, with over 4.4 billion dollars invested in the last four years.
In Inuwa’s words, women as the best teachers of digital transformation and education, Inuwa said, “If you are looking for an innovator and you find a woman, you have gotten one. Because the first teacher that one gets is his mother and a mother remains with us from that cradle.”
“Some of our key initiatives designed to support technology innovation are the key technology with Entrepreneurship, and Innovation Support Schemes. These have translated into the creation of a vibrant innovation ecosystem that has created over 35,000 direct jobs.
“As indicated earlier, today’s program is part of our initial plan as part of the agency’s efforts and celebrating this year’s international women’s day,” he said.
Inuwa urged participants to make good use of their smartphones beyond answering calls and sending text messages, adding that they could use their smartphones as an office and make the best use of them to market whatever they are doing and to also get opportunities.
He also advised them to make the best use of the opportunity afforded to them by the agency during the training workshop.
Certificates of Participation were later issued to all the attendees by the Acting Director Digital Literacy and Capacity Development Department of the Agency, Dr. Amina Sambo Magaji.
Aisha Yusuf Mahmoud, one of the beneficiaries, thanked the agency for giving her the opportunity to develop her skills in digital marketing.
