The United Nations has been urged to foster more inclusive partnerships and resources for the digital literacy and innovative partnerships of women and girls within the African region, as that would be a surest escape route from socio-economic backwardness and other inhibiting gender barriers.
This was part of the passionate appeals made by experts at the ongoing Parallel Event, United Nations Commission on Status of Women ( NGO CSW 67 Forum), held at the United Nations, Headquarters, New York, with the theme, “Education and Innovations as the Solution to the Empowerment of Women and Girls in a Digital Age.”
One of such experts, Dr Jumai Ahmadu, President of Helpline Foundation For the Needy, in her presentation at the event, said that deliberate efforts have been made by stakeholders towards eliminating gender barriers in the region, but more needs to be done to bridge digital literacy divide among women and girls.
She said, “To bridge this gap, there is a need to focus our efforts on maximising the use of every opportunity to educate young girls and women in digital skills.”
Ahmadu noted that the digital divide was very noticeable in Nigerian rural areas, as well as across Africa, hence the need for a partnership that will trigger a digital literacy revolution.
She disclosed that her Foundation in collaboration with other organisations have taken up the challenge in Nigeria, and has trained over 200 rural women on computer literacy, aimed at empowering them.
According to her, the little efforts by the Foundation and various stakeholders were already changing the tides of digital backwardness amongst women and girls, with appreciable progress being recorded by many of them in the area of the Fintech industry, creating mobile banks and other mobile platforms.
She explained that particularly in Nigeria, women and girls have shown the willingness to overcome all gender barriers, making inroads into prosperity through technological innovation.
She noted that ” it is a call to action for us gathered here to ensure that all young girls can access quality education and skills in digital technology.
“We can only achieve this through sustainable partnership to access funds and these resources are essential for this our partnerships.
“Many girls and women rely on us to be empowered with these skills, we strongly believe this assembly will yield partnerships and MOUs for the common goal of women and girls in Nigeria and the world,” she added.
