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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has reaffirmed its commitment to creating right policies for women entrepreneurs in Nigeria.
The Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, while spreaking at the recent first edition of the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA) Women and Youth Leadership Symposium in Abuja said the agency’s remained committed to creating enabling policies for the development, use and adoption of digital technology in supporting women entrepreneurs across the country.
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“NITDA supported the symposium with Technology Tools that will help enhance Entrepreneurship especially amongst Women and Youth in general,” said Abdullahi. He was represented by the agency’s Deputy Director, Digital Economy Development Department, Dr Amina Sambo Magaji.
He noted that given NITDA’s mandate, the organisation is deeply drawn to developmental initiatives which explains the importance the agency attaches to the symposium.
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 several opportunities that support women and youth entrepreneurship, Abdullahi 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 ECOFEPA, Filimena Viera, said women and youths constitute a significant percentage of the world’s population, and their continued deprivation in virtually all areas has increasingly become a source of concern.
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; they are exposed to limited opportunities and political experience.
Her words: “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 kkill 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, 20 laptop computers were donated by the NITDA.
The 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.
