The updates expand the Family Pairing tool, allowing parents to set specific times when their teens cannot access TikTok, see who they interact with, and even receive alerts when their child reports inappropriate content. 

Again, the platform is introducing a wind-down mode to encourage teens under 16 to step away from their screens at night.

Since launching Family Pairing five years ago, TikTok has continuously added features to help parents supervise their teenagers’ online activities. With the new Time Away function, parents can now block access to TikTok during specific hours, such as school time, family gatherings, or bedtime. 

They can also create a recurring schedule to reinforce screen time habits. If a teen requests extra time, parents have the final say on whether to approve it.

To improve visibility into their teen’s digital social circle, TikTok is adding a feature that allows parents to see who their child follows, who follows them, and which accounts they have blocked. In addition, when a teen reports content they believe violates TikTok’s guidelines, they now have the option to notify a trusted adult at the same time.

Parents also have more control over their teen’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) feed, which has gained popularity among young users worldwide. If a teen disables this feature, parents can re-enable it.

Other adjustable settings include:

• Customised daily screen time limits – parents can set different usage limits for weekdays and weekends, requiring a passcode to extend screen time.
• Privacy settings management – if a teen makes their account public, parents can switch it back to private.

In a bid to curb excessive social media use at night, TikTok is rolling out a new wind-down mode. If a teen under 16 remains active on the app past 10pm, their For You feed will be interrupted by a full-screen message accompanied by calming music, encouraging them to log off. If they continue using the app, a second, more persistent prompt appears.

TikTok is also testing in-app meditation exercises as part of this feature, drawing from research that suggests mindfulness practices improve sleep quality. The platform already restricts push notifications for teens during nighttime hours.

Dr Vicki Harrison, a member of TikTok’s Content Advisory Counsel and Programme Director for Stanford Psychiatry’s Center for Youth Mental Health & Wellbeing, praised the update, stating:

“TikTok has responded to calls from both youth and their families for more tools that will help them support their wellbeing while using the app. Prioritising sleep, balanced usage, and more parent-teen interactions around social media use are all positive steps that I hope we see more of.”

TikTok is also working on more robust age verification measures to ensure that children under 13 do not access the platform. The company is partnering with Telefónica to explore ways in which mobile providers can help confirm users’ ages. 

Added to this, TikTok is supporting the Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Age Assurance, an initiative that brings together policymakers, regulators, and child safety organisations to discuss industry-wide solutions.

The platform is making an effort to simplify online safety for parents through its Digital Safety Partnership for Families. This initiative provides parents with guidance on setting digital boundaries, ensuring that conversations about online experiences are not limited to TikTok but apply across all platforms.

Stephen Balkam, CEO and founder of the Family Online Safety Institute, welcomed TikTok’s new approach:

“TikTok’s latest iteration of its parental controls and online safety tools is a welcome development for families looking to both protect their children from harm and empower them as responsible digital citizens. Most importantly, these tools give parents greater support in fostering open, ongoing conversations about their children’s technology use.”

TikTok encourages feedback from parents and teens to help make better improvements in future.

The report by ApplyBoard, the leading international student mobility technology platform, tagged “International Students Increasingly Interested in High-Demand Careers, ApplyBoard’s Internal Data Shows” comprehensively analyzed international student search trends across Canada, the US, and the UK offering valuable insights into how Nigerian students are shaping their study choices.

With shifting policies and a changing global landscape, Nigerian students are increasingly aligning their academic interests with high-demand career sectors such as healthcare, engineering, and science.

Key Insights

Healthcare Surge in Canada and the US

• In Canada, Nigerian student interest in healthcare programs grew significantly, aligning with the country’s increasing demand for healthcare professionals, with projected shortages in doctors and nurses.
• For the US, health-related searches from Nigerian students rose dramatically by seven percentage points in 2024, now accounting for 20% of searches. This shift is reflective of the growing global focus on healthcare careers.
• The UK also witnessed increased interest in healthcare programs from Nigerian students, a trend that mirrors broader workforce demands.

STEM Dominates in the US

• Nigerian students remain committed to STEM fields, with 62% of the total number of Nigerian students in the US pursuing science, technology, engineering, and math courses.
• Science-related searches surged in 2024, with 18% of Nigerian students searching for science programs, indicating a growing preference for this field.
• Engineering and technology, despite a slight overall decline, remain key areas of interest for Nigerian students, with 17% exploring this sector, highlighting the global demand for STEM professionals.

Growing Interest in UK Programs

• Interest in UK programs from Nigerian students rose substantially in 2024, with healthcare, engineering, and science fields becoming increasingly popular.
• Nigerian students’ searches for health-related programs in the UK saw a notable increase, up by five percentage points compared to the previous year, reflecting the sector’s growing demand in the UK’s expanding healthcare system.
• As the UK experiences positive momentum in early 2025, Nigerian students are likely to play a central role in this recovery.

These insights underscore how Nigerian students are adapting their study choices to meet global job market demands, positioning themselves for careers in high-growth sectors.

As institutions in Canada, the US, and the UK look to recruit top international talent, focusing on these fields can help align student interests with workforce needs.

Once again, Interswitch has brought together the nation’s brightest young minds, reaffirming its commitment to advancing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education and innovation.

This flagship CSR initiative continues to inspire and empower the next generation of scientists, engineers, and tech leaders who will shape Nigeria’s future.

InterswitchSPAK 6.0 was nothing short of electrifying. Students from across Nigeria participated, showcasing remarkable talent, resilience, and problem-solving skills.

With each challenging round, these young innovators proved their mettle, captivating audiences with their brilliance and determination.

After an intense battle of wits, three outstanding students emerged victorious:

• First Place: Ndudu Ekong Henry from Pegasus School, Akwa Ibom state claimed the grand prize—a whopping ₦15 million scholarship spread over five years, a brand-new laptop, and monthly stipends to support his academic journey.
• Second Place: Eric Denyefa Omare from St. Gregory’s College, Lagos state secured a ₦10 million scholarship spread over three years and a brand-new laptop.
• Third Place: David Umeojiaka from Graceland International School, Rivers State won a ₦5 million scholarship for one year, alongside a brand-new laptop.

The rewards didn’t end there! Students who placed fourth to ninth received cash prizes, while the top 18 semi-finalists and 27 teachers were treated to a plethora of gifts for their dedication and hard work.

Also, the top 200 preliminary qualifiers were given free JAMB e-PINs, reaffirming Interswitch’s commitment to education accessibility.

For the winners, the experience was a dream come true. Overjoyed and proud, they shared their excitement and gratitude for being part of such a transformative journey.

Their hard work and perseverance stood out, proving that determination truly pays off.

InterswitchSPAK is more than just a competition, but a platform that ignites potential, nurtures innovation, and celebrates the boundless possibilities within STEM.

As Nigeria’s digital future unfolds, Interswitch remains steadfast in lighting the path for these young trailblazers, promoting innovation and breaking boundaries in science and technology.

Reflecting on the success of InterswitchSPAK 6.0, it invokes a sense of pride and optimism for what lies ahead.

The future of Nigeria’s STEM community is undoubtedly bright, and the world can’t wait to see these young talents redefine the world of science and technology.

Here’s to the future scientists, engineers, and innovators who will lead the way. Your journey has only just begun, and the possibilities are limitless!

Initially introduced for TikTok users under 18, the STEM feed is now available by default for users of all ages in these regions. 

The goal is to make educational content more accessible on the platform, allowing users to explore topics in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The platform emphasises that while the feed is now activated by default, users still have the option to disable it through the app’s settings under “content preferences.”

This expansion follows issues from lawmakers and advocacy groups, who have raised alarms over TikTok’s impact on young people. In particular, the app has been accused of deploying addictive design features that keep users engaged for long periods, prompting the platform to highlight its focus on educational content through the STEM feed.

In earlier congressional testimonies in the US, TikTok’s CEO, Shou Chew, mentioned the STEM feed as part of the company’s efforts to provide value to users, especially in educational contexts. 

The feature was introduced as a way of countering the argument that the platform was harmful to young people’s mental health. 

With this latest expansion, TikTok seems to be making itself more than just an entertainment app, encouraging learning and discovery.

The company reports that since the STEM feed’s initial launch, there has been an 18% rise in STEM-related videos on the platform, with over 200 million views attributed to the feed. 

TikTok also plans to introduce local language support for this feature in the future, further broadening its reach.

Founders: Mrs. Funmilola Victoria Omojola and Mrs. Ebele Amaefule, honored the remarkable achievements of young female leaders in STEM subjects.

The Rise Up and Sparkle Initiative is dedicated to empowering young girls in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) and women in the digital space.

Through its diverse programs and awards, the initiative champions gender equality, nurtures leadership, and promotes excellence, striving to bridge the gender gap and foster a more inclusive technological future.

The STEM Excellence Awards celebrate the pioneering efforts of young girls excelling in STEM, encouraging further innovation and scientific exploration. This pilot program in Lagos State honours the top female SS3 students in STEM subjects.

The goals are:

• Inspire Excellence: Motivate girls to pursue and excel in STEM fields.
• Recognize Achievement: Celebrate outstanding female students.
• Promote Equality: Advocate for gender equality in STEM.

Grace High School was selected as a pilot school for this initiative. The event honoured best overall female students in Computer Science, best overall female in Sciences, and the overall best female student of the graduating class. Awardees received cash prizes and gifts.

“This pilot project in Lagos State is the beginning of a transformative journey,” said Mrs. Funmilola Victoria Omojola. “With ongoing support, we aim to expand this program and inspire more young girls to achieve greatness in STEM.”

Special thanks go to Mrs. Iyiola Olatokunbo Edun, executive director of Grace Schools, Principal Mr. Phillips Balogun, and the entire staff of Grace High School for their commitment to the success of the 2024 graduates.

The event’s success was due to the generous contributions of sponsors and supporters. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone involved, paving the way for a brighter, more inclusive future in STEM.

Photo splash:

For more information about the Rise Up and Sparkle Initiative and how to support its mission, contact info@riseupsparkle.org.ng or visit website.

Since its establishment in 2010, MTN has been supporting Nigerian students through the MTN Scholarships Program. 

This initiative annually honors and supports high-achieving students from Nigerian Public Tertiary Institutions

Benefits:

Applicants stand to receive the following benefits: 

• Financial Support: Each year, MTN awards scholarships to deserving students to help alleviate the financial burden of higher education. The scholarship amount was recently increased to N300,000 per year and is renewable until graduation if you meet the required academic performance benchmarks
• Investing in the Future: MTN recognizes the importance of education and is focused on grooming upcoming Nigerian leaders in STEM fields and students with visual impairments.

Eligibility 

To be eligible for the scholarship, the following eligibility criteria must be met:

• Citizenship: You must be a Nigerian citizen
• Institution: You must be enrolled in a full-time program at a Nigerian public university, polytechnic, or college of education.
• Level of Study:
  • MTN Science and Technology Scholarship (MTN STS): Open to students in their second semester of 200 level or currently in 300 level, studying STEM-related courses. Direct entry students must have completed an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) program with a minimum CGPA of 3.0 (upper credit).
  • MTN Scholarship for Blind Students (MTN SBS): Open to 200 and 300 level students studying any course, except Law students who must be in 300 level due to the program’s five-year duration.
• Academic Performance:
  • MTN Science and Technology Scholarship (MTN STS):
    • Public Universities & Colleges of Education: Minimum CGPA of 3.0/4 or 3.5/5 (second class upper credit).
    • Public Polytechnics: Minimum CGPA of 3.0 (upper credit) from your OND program and admission into the HND program.
  • MTN Scholarship for Blind Students (MTN SBS):
    • Universities & Colleges of Education: Minimum CGPA of 2.5.
    • Public Polytechnics: Minimum CGPA of 2.0 from your OND program and admission into the HND program.

How to Apply:

Applications for the MTN 2024 Scholarships are currently ongoing, apply via the website before the deadline on Wednesday, June 12, 2023.

Flutterwave also celebrated women’s history month by training over 200 of their female staff on important career skills for growth in the technology and fintech industry. 

As part of the organization’s commitment to championing women’s empowerment and fostering inclusion especially in the tech industry, Flutterwave, in delivering the mentorship sessions, acknowledged the significance of equipping young women with essential skills needed for a more digitized future.

The primary goal of this initiative was to inspire and empower girls, encouraging them to pursue careers in STEM fields.

In Nigeria, Flutterwave in collaboration with  Stem Bridge, hosted girls from International School, University of Lagos and Kuramo College at its Ikoyi offices for a day of inspiration, mentorship, and exploration in the world of technology.

In Kenya, Flutterwave collaborated with Kibera Girls School to conduct a career talk aimed at inspiring and motivating the girls towards their dream careers. These events provided a platform for Flutterwave staff to share experiences, discuss challenges, and inspire the girls to envision and pursue futures in their dream careers.

These mentorship sessions occurred across multiple locations in Nigeria and Kenya, reaching over 400 women and girls from diverse backgrounds. 

Flutterwave’s dedication to diversity and inclusion extends beyond the workplace, as demonstrated through this impactful initiative. The emphasis for the mentorship sessions was on creating future possibilities on whatever career paths the girls wanted to choose. 

Aligning with Flutterwave’s community commitment, the initiative’s objective aimed at closing the gender gap in technology and empowering the next generation of female leaders. It also builds on other initiatives Flutterwave is undertaking to observe women’s history month such as hosting a product workshop this month themed “Thriving as a small business in a challenging economy”.

The product workshop targeting women owned small businesses will teach skills on  finance management, marketing, branding, growth and collaborations, aimed at empowering women led businesses to scale.

“We believe in the power of diversity and inclusion, and although International Women’s Day and March being Women’s History Month provides us with a meaningful occasion to amplify our commitment to supporting women in technology, we believe this should not be a one-time occurrence, but a continuous commitment throughout the year. Through these outreach initiatives, we hope to inspire young girls to dream big, embrace challenges, and consider careers in STEM fields,” said Yewande Akomolafe-Kalu, AVP, Branding and Storytelling at Flutterwave.

Flutterwave has also  partnered with  AltSchool Africa in the past to train an additional 200 young talents spread majorly across Kenya and Nigeria for one year

These initiatives align with Flutterwave’s broader mission to promote diversity and equality within the tech ecosystem. By investing in the education and empowerment of young women, Flutterwave seeks to contribute to a future where gender parity is a reality in the rapidly evolving world of technology.

The UK Government’s investment in women in Nigeria has been described as the means to accelerating progress, considering that a recent USAID report indicates, 90% of jobs worldwide will have a digital component in the near future and without digital skills, women are automatically disadvantaged and do not have the confidence to participate in the digital workforce or the digital economy at large.

Speaking at International Women’s Day (IWD) Digihubs Awards held in Lagos on March 08, 2024, in Lagos, Jonny Baxter, British deputy high commissioner in Nigeria, pledged the commitment of the UK Government to close the digital divide in the country.

He said the Government has been a leading partner in working with the Nigerian people to close the digital gender divide in Nigeria.

Baxter said: “We have championed inclusion for women and girls into the digital economy through projects such as DigiGirls. This is because we know that the data says that inclusion leads to an increase in economic power.

“We know that women and girls are disproportionately impacted by climate change, natural disasters and conflict because they exacerbate existing inequality and barriers in accessing services and support.

“Yet women are critical front-line responders when crisis hits and are crucial voices in decision making processes – if given the space to be heard”.

He noted that, the participation of civil society groups, including women’s organisations, makes a peace agreement of 64% less likely to fail, and “we know that the benefit of reducing conflict in other countries is felt in many other countries of the world.

“Gender inequality is particularly entrenched for women and girls who face multiple-discrimination, because of their age, religion, disability, sexuality, race or other difference,” he added.

Mr. Baxter while reflecting on the Digital Access Programme in Nigeria expressed the UK’s commitment to being a global science and technology partner, working with others to develop solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges, including on digital skills.

He said the UK firmly believes in the future growth story of Nigeria’s digital sector. “To continue to drive this growth, Nigeria needs a combination of increased access to safe, affordable, faster and better-quality internet, an encouraging regulatory environment, a skilled talent pool, and access to investment and partnership opportunities.

“Our in-country digital strategy focuses on working with both the government and private sector to improve infrastructure, build cyber resilience, reduce barriers to digital innovation, drive the upskilling of a digital workforce and improve policy and regulatory frameworks.

“Through the Digital Access Programme, we work with the Federal Government, State governments and policy makers as well as the Private Sector on removing systemic barriers to connectivity expansion”.

One of such programmes is the DigiGirls programme where last year on International Women Day, the UK launched a 10-year Women and girls’ strategy which showcases its commitment to tackling gender inequality across the globe.

“The first two cohorts of the DigiGirls programme saw the training and upskilling of 6,800 women and girls. While that might look like a large number it was only 6.3% of the people that applied for the opportunity to be trained for free.

“For us, it felt like we needed to do more. We thought about how we could make this project reach more people and have a wider impact yet still be sustainable.  We then decided to experiment with using local technology hubs to deliver upskilling to women and girls. This would strengthen the hubs as well as provide a physical space where women and girls could learn undisturbed.

“Our experiment paid off and in this present phase of the project Cybersafe was able to train 59,900 women and girls. We did this with support of 200 volunteer Alumni DigiGirls called DigiChampions and a partnership with 60 hubs across 22 states in Nigeria.

“We believe that this programme has helped in addressing the digital inequality in Nigeria – and we will continue to support programmes like this,” he stated.

On her part, Mrs. Confidence Staveley, founder and executive director of CyberSafe Foundation highlighted education as the true means to getting more women into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and a door to innovation.

In her words, “Inclusion of women will not happen by chance, it will take intentional, tailored and targeted investment in women to accelerate progress that we so desperately need”.

Continuing Mrs. Staveley said, “Investing in women also includes not just investing in implementing impactful progranms like DigiGirls. We need to mainstream solutions through the vehicle of policy. We must mainstream digital skills especially for women in our school curriculums, we must address discrimination and gender-bias practices in hiring processes…making them illegal.

“We must take a stand on educating men, our allies on what the challenges are and getting them on our side of this war against exclusion.

“The lack of women’s inclusion in technology comes at a massive cost. Infact, women’s exclusion from the digital worid has shaved US$1 trillion from the gross domestic product of low- and middle-income countries in the last decade – a loss that will grow to US$1.5 trillion by 2025 without action according to a 2022 Gender Snapshot report.

“But today, we celebrate the resilience of women like Azeez Omowunmi, a DigiGirl in our third cohort, who faced the classic challenge of electricity blackouts and economic constraints. These blackouts were standing in the way of her enjoying the free training we provided directly to over 60,000 women in this cohort. Azeez found a clever way to navigate these challenges. She made the tough decision to spend all her weekends sleeping over in church where she will have access to electricity to charge her computing device, consume our on-demand learning content and do her assessments throughout the programmme.

“We celebrate our Digichampions who in true spirit of generosity and service that Women are known for, they are ach after getting trained by us, training 100 women each in their local community…creating an organic ripple effect of digital skills transfer

“We celebrate the nursing mothers at our hubs and our excellent hub partner in Kaduna who brought their children to the Hub so their gift of motherhood does not deny them the digital skills required for today’s technology driven workplace”.

IWD Digihubs Awards

Five hubs were recognized at the auspicious event among 60 of the hub partners, spread across the geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

Award Categories:

1. Mission Champion Award (A.K.A Overall Best Hub)

Award Recipient: Development Hub, Borno – Abbas Baba

The award recognized Development Hub with the highest retention rate and a strong commitment to the sustainability of the digital skills training for women in the long term.

“The hub implemented effective methods for monitoring progress and evaluating the impact of the training and has the highest number of graduating fellows”, the Cybersafe Foundation ED said.

2. Impact Amplifier Award

Award Recipient: Guru Innovation Hub, Cross River – Oyo Effiom

This awards Guru Innovation Hub that demonstrated a strong commitment to the vision and enrolled the greatest number of fellows. The nominated hub exceeded the number of enrollments they initially pledged.

3. Inclusive Excellence Champion Award

Award Recipient: NHub Incubator, Plateau – Shamsiyah Bashir

The award recognized the hub that has created the most supportive and inclusive learning environment for the participants.

According to the organisers, this hub implemented innovative and effective training methods to enhance the learning experience for the beneficiaries.

4. Community Engagement and Outreach Award

Award Recipient: Dignity International Consults, Imo – Ihemegbulem Chukwuebuka Gerald

“The award recognizes the hub that excelled in community engagement and outreach, reaching, and positively impacting a broad audience.

“”The nominated hub did this by opening two hubs for the training to enable them to reach more people”, Mrs. Staveley said.

5. Outstanding Community Impact Award (A.K.A Grassroot Empowerer Award)

Award Recipient: Jbest ICT, Kaduna – Anna Tanko (Female Led Hub)

This awards a hub in an underprivileged or severely disadvantaged neighborhood that has showcased remarkable achievements in fostering positive change within their local community.

“Their exceptional problem-solving abilities have been instrumental in ensuring that their community participates in the training”, she explained at the DigiGirls programme.

Following his outstanding performance, Abraham received a university education scholarship valued at N7.5 million, spread over a period of 5 years, inclusive of a monthly stipend plus a brand-new laptop, and the prestigious recognition as the best STEM student in Nigeria.

Securing the second and third place positions were Emmanuel Omoegbeleghan from The Crescent International School, Ogun State, and Emmanuel Angelo-Hyuwa from The Ambassadors College, Ogun State, who won N4 million and N1 million scholarships, respectively.

Out of almost 17,000 initial applications from secondary school students nationwide, these top three winners rose to the top owing to their speed, perseverance, accuracy and knowledge – attributes that the highly competitive competition has come to be known for.

InterswitchSPAK, a CSR initiative of Interswitch, one of Africa’s leading integrated payments and digital commerce companies, was designed to recognize and reward exceptional efforts of brilliant young minds striving for excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects.

Now in its fifth year in Nigeria, the initiative has directly reached over 80,000 students in both Nigeria and Kenya, boosting interest in STEM subjects and rewarding excellence in the field of study.

Speaking on the significance of the competition, Vincent Ogbunude, Managing Director, Interswitch Cards and Tokens (Verve) said,

“The InterswitchSPAK initiative reaffirms our unwavering dedication to promoting STEM education and fostering a culture of innovation and excellence among young Nigerians.  We believe in the transformative power of education, and, through this competition, we illuminate the path for the next generation to innovate, create, and lead in the world of science and technology.”

To celebrate the fifth edition of the InterswitchSPAK competition, Interswitch also expanded the prize pool, with the 4th to 24th place winners receiving cash prizes of up to N250,000.

The success of this commemorative edition of the competition reinforces Interswitch’s position as a leading advocate for educational advancement and underscores the company’s relentless efforts in shaping the future of STEM in Africa.

As the InterswitchSPAK National Science Competition continues to make a profound impact on STEM education in Nigeria and across Africa, Interswitch looks forward to sustaining the momentum and further contributing to the development of STEM talent across the continent.

The strengthened alliance, marked by a multi-year grant over three years, underscores the partners’ dedication to fostering the economic empowerment and digital leadership of women.

Since its inception in 2019, the “SheTrades and UPS Women Exporters Programme” has worked towards narrowing the economic gap for women entrepreneurs.

The programme has implemented tailored and export-oriented technical assistance, fostered the public-private ecosystem to better support women-led businesses and facilitated their market and investment linkages. Its dual approach – incorporating both global outreach and an in-depth focus in key countries – has yielded significant results.

To date, the programme has directly impacted over 17,000 women with trade-related technical assistance, created 192 jobs for women, and facilitated over $3.72 million in new business and investment opportunities.

Entering its next phase (2024-2027), the programme will pivot to a digital-centric approach, to empower women entrepreneurs and young women, particularly in Latin America, Asia Pacific, and Africa.

The programme will also focus on expanding access to essential digital tools and platforms, ensuring women entrepreneurs are well-equipped to thrive in an increasingly digital business landscape.

Furthermore, significant efforts will be made to cultivate young women as future leaders in STEM and other male-dominated fields, providing them with the required skills and resources.

Additionally, the programme will aim to strengthen the institutional ecosystem to enhance women’s digital fluency and foster partnerships with market and financial institutions.

This will open up opportunities within digital value chains, including positioning women as potential suppliers to key partners.

By bridging the gender-digital gap, the programme aims to spur inclusive growth and job creation in the focus regions.

“The UPS Foundation is proud to build on our partnership with ITC SheTrades by committing $1 million to a renewed strategic focus on empowering women to succeed in the digital economy,” said Nikki Clifton, President of Social Impact and The UPS Foundation. ‘Whether it’s tapping into e-commerce and digital payments or harnessing the power of AI and automation, we look forward to working with the ITC to help more women entrepreneurs around the world access and benefit from an increasingly digital global business landscape.’

Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director at the International Trade Centre, added,

‘our collaboration with The UPS Foundation is equipping women entrepreneurs with the practical skills they need to sell their products across the world, and as we shift to focus on sharpening digital skills, more women will have the tools and resources they need to succeed in trade.’

Both ITC and The UPS Foundation see this partnership as a monumental leap towards achieving gender equality, digital inclusivity, and sustainable and inclusive economic growth.