Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has reiterated the agency’s commitment as the nation’s apex IT regulatory body to developing enabling policies for the development, use, and adoption of Digital Technology in supporting and enhancing the living standards of women entrepreneurs across the country.
The DG made the remarks at the inaugural ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA) Women and Youth Leadership Symposium in Abuja.
Inuwa, who was represented by the Agency’s Deputy Director, Digital Economy Development Department, Dr Amina Sambo Magaji, stated that given NITDA’s mandate, the organization is deeply drawn to developmental activities, which explains the symposium’s importance.
“NITDA supported the symposium by providing technology tools that would help improve entrepreneurship, particularly among women and youth in general.”
According to the NITDA CEO, a country’s inability to build a digital presence in today’s dynamic digital world equates to having a nonexistent nation.
“Technology is an enabling that many individuals all around the world use to build their digital presence. We will not be able to progress as a country, economically or politically, unless we have the necessary technological instruments. As a result, NITDA is particularly interested in and supportive of this symposium “.
Inuwa stated that a subsidiary was expressly founded and named Office of the Nigeria Digital Innovation (ONDI), primarily to stimulate the growth of Technology and Innovation in Nigeria, while outlining the Agency’s many chances that support Women and Youth Entrepreneurship.
The President of the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA), Filimena Viera, while observing that whereas women and youths constitute a significant percentage of the world’s population, their continued deprivation in virtually all areas of affairs has increasingly become a source of concern; attributed to the factors responsible to their age, gender, limited opportunities and assumed lack of political experience.
Viera noted that among the major reasons for the 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, and experiences and amplify best practices. To address the menace of Women and Youth marginalisation, an 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 skill set cannot be over-emphasized”.
Meanwhile, as part of its contribution towards guaranteeing the development of 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.
