Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has reaffirmed its commitment to enable policies for the development, use and adoption of Digital Technology in supporting and enhancing the living standard of women entrepreneurs across the country.
The Director-General , NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa made the pledge at the first edition of the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA) Women and Youth Leadership Symposium held in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Inuwa who was represented by the Deputy Director, Digital Economy Development Department of the Agency, Dr Amina Sambo Magaji, noted that given NITDA’s mandate, the organisation was deeply drawn to development initiatives which explains the importance the Agency attaches to the symposium.
“NITDA supported the symposium with Technology Tools that will help enhance Entrepreneurship especially amongst Women and Youth in general”.
According to the NITDA Boss, the inability of a country to create digital presence in today’s dynamic digital world translates to having a nonexistent Nation.
“Technology is an enabler that many people around the world leverage on to create their digital presence. Without the right technological tools, we will not be able to advance as a country, economically and politically. In the light of this, NITDA is very interested and supportive of this symposium”.
Outlining the Agency’s opportunities that support Women and Youth Entrepreneurship, Inuwa said a subsidiary was specifically established and named Office of the Nigeria Digital Innovation (ONDI), primarily to foster the growth of Technology and Innovation in Nigeria.
The President of the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA), Filimena Viera, observed that even though, women and youths constitute the significant percentage of the world’s population, their continued deprivation in virtually all areas of affairs has increasingly become a source of concern;
She attributed the factors responsible for for this to their age,gender, limited opportunities and assumed lack of political experience.
Viera noted that among the major reasons for African continent’s backwardness is the fact that Women and Youth have not been given their rightful places in governance.
“Youths are the future, hence the need for the creation of relevant platforms where they can exchange ideas, experiences and amplify best practices. To address the menace of Women and Youth marginalisation, effective policy framework mechanism has to be in place, so as to ensure equity and to guarantee a sustainable society where basic human rights are recognized. Platforms that will inspire, mentor and avail the Women and Youth training on the required kill set cannot be over emphasized”,She said
As part of its contribution to develop Women and Youth Entrepreneurship as championed by the Sub-regional Parliamentarians Association, twenty laptop computers were donated by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
The ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA) is an umbrella body of all Female members of the ECOWAS Parliaments; primarily established to assist Parliamentarians from the Sub-region using their legislative mandates to empower Women through qualitative legislation.
NITDA’s presence at the event further underscored the parastatal’s immense regard for women empowerment and efforts toward inspiring both Women and Youth Entrepreneurial skills in Nigeria, through the Agency’s mentorship, guidance and technical support.
