International Women’s Day: Evaluating NITDA’s drive to bridge digital divide

As the world basked in the celebration of the 2025 International Women’s Day themed “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress”, the call to action has never been more urgent. Women’s participation in key sectors, especially technology, remains disproportionately low, despite growing evidence that empowering women drives economic growth and societal advancement.  Accelerating action requires more than […]

As the world basked in the celebration of the 2025 International Women’s Day themed “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress”, the call to action has never been more urgent. Women’s participation in key sectors, especially technology, remains disproportionately low, despite growing evidence that empowering women drives economic growth and societal advancement. 

Accelerating action requires more than just words; it demands intentional efforts to dismantle barriers and create opportunities for women to thrive. This year’s IWD theme underscores the need for tangible progress in closing the gender gap and investing in women’s education, skills and leadership.

For Nigeria, where women make up nearly half of the population yet remain underrepresented in the technology sector, this message holds particular significance. Addressing this imbalance is not just about fairness—it is about driving national prosperity. 

One organisation that has consistently championed this cause is the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).  NITDA has been at the forefront of empowering women through technology, implementing strategic initiatives to bridge the gender gap and equip women with the skills to excel in the digital economy.

These programmes cover essential skills in coding, artificial intelligence, data analysis, and cybersecurity—fields that have traditionally seen low female participation. 

By equipping women with digital skills and ensuring their active participation in the tech ecosystem, NITDA is contributing directly to this broader vision of inclusive growth.

Through women-focused digital literacy programmes, the agency has organised training sessions across Nigeria, providing women with practical skills to navigate and excel in the digital space. Support for women-led startups has also been a priority, with funding opportunities, networking platforms, and mentorship programmes helping female entrepreneurs thrive. 

While progress is being made, challenges remain. Structural barriers, ranging from gender bias to unequal access to opportunities, continue to limit women’s participation in the tech sector.

Through initiatives like Digital Youth Nigeria, NITDA has trained thousands of young women in digital skills, helping them break into the tech industry and challenge outdated norms about women’s capabilities in the digital economy. The agency’s approach has been to empower women not just as participants but as leaders and innovators. 

As the global call to “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress” echoes this Women’s Day, NITDA’s work serves as a powerful example of what it means to take concrete action. Empowering women in technology is not just about closing the gender gap—it is about unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s human capital and driving sustainable development. 

 

Fatimah Yusuf Usman is a serving corps member at PRNigeria Centre, Abuja  [email protected]