By Ijeoma Olorunfemi
The High-Tech Centre for Nigerian Women and Youth (HTCNWY) says it will inaugurate the “Tech Her Vote” initiative to promote women participation in governance and encourage good electoral practices through digital technology.
Dr Wunmi Hassan, Chief Executive Officer of the centre, said this on Wednesday on the sidelines of the on-going 14th Africa Information and Communication Technologies Alliance (AfICTA) Summit.
The event is being held concurrently with the 20th edition of Women’s Tech Week in Abuja.
Hassan said the initiative would equip women with the knowledge and digital tools needed to participate in governance, contribute to national discourse and influence development.
“Tech Her Vote will provide online platforms for women to discuss issues affecting their communities and contribute to decision-making without necessarily being physically present.
“The aim is to unite women across Nigeria.
“It is not about who you are, your tribe or religion, or even the political party you belong to. It is about women coming together to make a difference, and technology is the tool,” she said.
Hassan said the centre had trained women virtually over the past month and planned to expand the programme to reach more participants in the coming months.
She further said that the initiative aligned with efforts to improve women’s access to digital skills, connectivity and opportunities to participate in the digital economy.
On women’s participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM), Hassan said Nigerian women had made significant progress over the past 20 years.
She said the centre had trained no fewer than 20,000 women, adding that the sector had witnessed many women acquiring digital skills and assumed leadership positions in technology-related organisations.
“Women are no longer where they used to be. In the past many struggled to use computers, but today women are leading technology organisations and taking up leadership roles,” she said.
Hassan, however, noted that more needed to be done to increase women’s representation in the technology ecosystem, given Nigeria’s large population.
She said sustained investment in digital skills training, reskilling and upskilling would enable more women to benefit from technology and contribute to national development.
According to her, the centre has also implemented programmes for female students in tertiary institutions, girls in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and women in other sectors.
She said the Women’s Tech Week provided an opportunity to build capacity among women at the local government, ward and state levels, enabling them to transfer their knowledge to others in their communities.
Hassan said collaboration with AfICTA would deepen efforts to expand opportunities for women across Nigeria and West Africa.
The summit’s theme was: “Advancing Inclusive Economic Growth: The Role of Security, Digital Skills and Indigenous Content in Regional, National and SMEs Development.”(NAN)
Edited by Uche Anunne
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