The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has trained and empowered 100 women in the Southwest Geopolitical zone in a bid to bridging the digital knowledge gap between them and their male counterparts.
The 5-day training was organised to eradicate the limitation of women’s access to economic opportunities and empowerment that can make them relevant and compete favourably with others in the open market.
The Director General of the Agency, Mr Kashir Inuwa Abdullahi, made this known at the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, venue of the training.
Abdullahi, represented by Mr. Vincent Olatunji, stated that the programme was organised to train and provide ICT tools for women across the six states in the Southwest, adding that it will propel digital literacy, create jobs, and create radical development of the nation.
According to him, “Unequivocally, women clearly have unequal access to economic opportunities in comparison to men, and NITDA believed that technology can bridge the gap. The 100 women being trained are projected to create 300 direct jobs and over 1000 indirect jobs.
“Statistics available have shown that women’s participation in ICT is below 24 percent and we at NITDA are determined to bridge the gap and boost participation through the special training programmes in addition to conventional ICT capacity development activities of which both men and women are given the same opportunities.
“The programme centres around key ICT skills areas and also include entrepreneurship development, business management and communication. In line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to sustainable human capital development, at the end of the programme, all the women will have a laptop computer each and stipend to help their businesses.”
Speaking at the programme, the First Lady of Ekiti State, Mrs Bisi Fayemi, stated that Governor Kayode Fayemi has always been passionate about women empowerment and promulgation of laws that can tackle socio-cultural and economic impediments against women.
“Up to 2015, Nigeria did not meet any of the goals set for MDGs. We began the SDG in 2015 and with the speed at which we are going, Nigeria stands the risk of not achieving those things that are contained in the SDGs, if proper things are not done.
The Commissioner for Public Utilities in Ekiti State, Engr Bamidele Faparusi, said government is finalising memorandum of understanding with private firms for the laying of fibre-optic wireless cables across the towns and villages in the state for internet connectivity.
While saluting the FG for placing high premium interest on digital literacy, the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, Dr Hephzibar Oladebeye, said the ICT training will help in stemming the tide of human trafficking, prostitution and other vices common among jobless women.