The Nigerian Women in Information Technology (NIWIIT) has urged the government, industry leaders and other stakeholders to accelerate efforts to promote innovation, leadership and greater inclusion for women in Nigeria’s rapidly expanding digital economy.
Speaking on Wednesday July 1 at NIWIIT’s two-day conference in Abuja, the association’s President, Olukemi Ayodele, said the organisation remains committed to equipping women with digital skills, mentorship and leadership opportunities to enable them to thrive in the technology sector. The conference was themed, “Next-Gen Women: Driving the Digital Economy Through Leadership, Innovation and Inclusion.”
The President of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Prof. Muhammad Aliyu, described women as key drivers of innovation in the technology ecosystem, applauding NIWIIT’s Tech Queens Initiative and RoboGirls with Allied Boys programme for inspiring young talents in science, technology and innovation. Meanwhile, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Information Officer, Bukola Ajayi, stressed that women must not only participate in building digital infrastructure but also play leading roles in designing it.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Centre for Women Development, Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, encouraged women to become active innovators in the digital revolution. She emphasised the importance of digital safety, online privacy and continuous capacity building as essential pillars for meaningful inclusion in the technology space.
The conference concluded with awards for schools that excelled in the RoboGirls robotics competition, while winning teams received robotics kits to encourage innovation. The event attracted technology experts, regulators, academics and industry stakeholders who explored practical ways to increase women’s participation and leadership in Nigeria’s digital economy.
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