Inuwa expressed this during a meeting with a delegation from TECHWOMEN, led by Ms. Binta Mustapha, at the Agency’s Corporate Headquarters in Abuja.

While noting the role of promoting digital inclusion among women from diverse backgrounds in national development, Inuwa said empowering women aligns with one of NITDA’s core pillars “Fostering Digital Literacy and Cultivating Talent” as outlined in the Agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan 2.0.

Recognising the increasing global demand for a workforce proficient in both basic digital literacy and advanced technological skills, the NITDA Boss disclosed ongoing efforts to develop a National Digital Gender Inclusion Strategy aimed at addressing the historical dominance of men in previously launched initiatives.

Inuwa told the visitors from TECHWOMEN that there is need for a minimum of 40% women representation across all NITDA initiatives to create a conducive environment for women to thrive in the technology sector.

Inuwa further shared NITDA’s commitment to supporting women, citing collaborative efforts with the World Bank to provide digital literacy training for women.

He also mentioned initiatives such as the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, emphasising the importance of women’s participation and the agency’s partnerships with global tech giants like Google, Microsoft, Coursera, and others to build talent and enhance access to digital job opportunities.

He said, “The idea is to build talent and get access to jobs. We are working with different partners both local and international on how this can be propagated and even incorporate it in our mentor curriculum.

The Director General emphasized the broader goal of these initiatives – building talent and facilitating job access. He revealed ongoing partnerships with both local and international organizations to propagate these efforts and integrate them into mentorship curricula.

Earlier in her remarks, Ms. Binta Mustapha, stated that their organisation mentor women in various fields to provide them with the knowledge and ideas they need to make positive contributions to the growth of the nation.

“The opportunities given to women has aid in bridging the gender gap, providing them with the platform to showcase their talents and innovative ideas towards solution findings bringing about ideas and knowledge sharing.

“More women participation is needed in the tech world so as to contribute their own quota to the growth of the nation through job creations and attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI),” she added.

Alumni of the 2021 U.S. government sponsored TechWomen program on Monday concluded a STEM mentoring program called, “EduChamps” for 30 adolescent girls from African Church Grammar School, Ibadan.

Supported by the U.S. government, the program provided mentorship and skills training for girls to explore careers and business opportunities in STEM.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the program, U.S. Consulate Deputy Public Affairs Officer Jennifer Foltz said it was imperative for young girls to have access to mentors from a range of fields who can help them gain skills and boost their confidence to consider higher education and careers in STEM.

She noted that “EduChamps” is one of the U.S. government’s initiatives to engage underserved communities, ensure gender parity, and provide women and girls with opportunities to contribute to creating sustainable and inclusive economic prosperity.

“STEM education is the key foundation for any country’s economic success,” Foltz said. “We are excited to support this initiative that serves as an inspiration for young girls to consider STEM subjects in their future careers in order to solve global challenges.”

Damilola Asaleye, a TechWomen Fellow, said drawing more girls into tech will help close the gender gap in the STEM fields. “With EduChamps, we are taking action to improve inclusiveness and narrow the gender gap in the STEM field,” she added.

Through the “EduChamps” initiative, the TechWomen fellows provided career counseling to the high school girls focusing on opportunities in the technology sector such as upcycling, automotive engineering, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and space science.

The students also received educational supplies such as school bags, school uniforms, textbooks, exercise books, writing materials and sanitary pads to encourage them to stay in school.

More broadly, the United States has invested millions of dollars to directly advance gender equality across sub-Saharan Africa, through activities that promote opportunities for women, access to health and education services, and efforts to prevent and respond to gender-based violence.

In 2011, the U.S. government introduced the TechWomen program to empower the next generation of women leaders in the technology field.

This exchange program brings together women in Northern California with their counterparts in the Middle East, Central Asia, North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, for a professional mentorship at leading technology companies in the United States.