Senior Programme Officer Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Malam Isah Garba, has said bridging gender digital divide would serve as a major catalyst for developing and harnessing the potentials of the nation.
Speaking at the official launch of a book entitled “Towards A Gender Digital Inclusion Agenda For Nigeria” held at CITAD corporate headquarters in Kano Saturday, Garba said women have been pushed to the lower rung of the ladder in the competitive age of digital communication adding that getting access to internet has created employment avenues for youths seeking employment.
He said over the years, CITAD has been working in different fronts to contribute in addressing the gender digital divide which include; providing training for women and girls on ICTs, advocacy for girls to have access to internet in schools, engaging in campaign against gender based violence online, developing ICT entrepreneurship skills for Women etc.
He however stated that CITAD has undertaken researches to understand the peculiar nature of the gender digital divide in Nigeria and convened several meetings of stakeholders on how to address the problem.
He stressed the need for government and other stakeholders to agree on a national gender digital inclusion agenda that would provide concrete strategies, initiatives, commitments, and target of addressing the gender digital divide in the country.
Speaking on the importance of the book, a Programme Assistant Centre for Information Technology and Development, Hajiya Maryam Ado Haruna, said the book was meant to provide possible leeway of bridging digital divide among women for them to have an all-encompassing inclusion to serve as a catalyst for national development.
