The Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has launched a Women in Digital Economy Fund Project (WiDEF) to address gender digital divide and enhance business opportunities for women in Northern Nigeria.
This was announced by the project manager, Zainab Aminu, in Kano on Friday at a special press briefing.
20,000 women, with five thousand from each of Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi and Yobe states to benefit from the project that will last a period of two years.
Addressing newsmen on the project, Zainab said the WiDEF project is a joint effort between USAID and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to accelerate process of closing the gender digital divide.
“WiDEF is also supported by global anchor partners: Microsoft, the Reliance Foundation, and a growing pool of strategic partners” she added.
She further explained that the project will also focus on digital literacy and training, conducting workshops and training sessions to build digital skills among women and girls.
It will also focus on economic empowerment, policy advocacy, community awareness and mentorship and role model.
Mentioning the need for action, Zainab also said that the Nigeria’s tech sector is rapidly growing, but women remain underrepresented.
She mentioned that according to the National Bureau of Statistics, women occupy less than 20 percent of tech jobs in the country saying, the gender imbalance not only limits opportunities for women, but also hinders the full potential of Nigeria’s digital economy.
“By integrating more women into the tech industry, Nigeria can unlock its economic potential, drive innovation, and create more inclusive workforce” she declared.