The Centre for Information Technology And Development (CITAD), a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) has said that women’s participation on the internet will enable them access knowledge and useful information that will improve their lives
A program officer of the organisation, Mohammed Chiroma Hassan, said this on Saturday during a one-day step down training for female students of selected tertiary institutions in Bauchi state on ‘women digital inclusion, digital rights and Gender violence’ as part of the Bauchi Feminists Internet School organised by CITAD with support from Association for Progressive Communication.
He opined that religious, societal norms, illiteracy and online harassment are some of the factors promoting women digital exclusion in Nigeria.
Hassan enumerated other problems hindering the women folk from accessing the internet to include; lack of Policies Supporting Internet and Gender in the society, failure to tackle problem of girl child education, unequal opportunities and gender violence online.
According to him, ICT is undoubtedly essential for everyone as it affects every aspect of the human lives, lamenting that there is low percentage of women/girls who make effective use of the internet and social media in Nigeria.
The NGO recommended that among the solutions that could help in the campaign for digital inclusion included Policy that are favourable to women, Parents should give their female children the same opportunity they give their male ones in accessing digital devices from childhood.
Our correspondent reports that the participants were taught on internet safety, security and how to use social media to report abuse or attacks during the step down training.
