Kashifu Inuwa, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has reaffirmed the agency’s commitment as the country’s top IT regulatory body to developing enabling policies for the development, use, and adoption of digital technology in order to support and improve the living standards of women entrepreneurs across the country.
This was expressed by Inuwa at the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA) Women and Youth Leadership Symposium in Abuja, which was held for the first time.
Inuwa, who was represented by Dr Amina Sambo Magaji, Deputy Director of the Agency’s Digital Economy Development Department, remarked that given NITDA’s objective, the organization was deeply drawn to developmental efforts, which underlined the importance the Agency placed 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 non-existent nation.
“Technology is an enabler that many people around the world leverage 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 several 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.
Meanwhile, the President of the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA), Filimena Viera, while observing that whereas, 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 this ugly development 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 recognised.
“Platforms that will inspire, mentor and avail the women and youth training on the required skill set cannot be over emphasised”.
Also, as part of its contribution towards guaranteeing the development of women and youth entrepreneurship as championed by the sub – regional Parliamentarians Association, 20 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 use their legislative mandates to empower Women through qualitative legislation.
