Science & Tech
AN ICT Expert, Dr Amina Sambo-Magaji, said technology and innovation were veritable tools to bridging gender gap in the society towards bolstering digital economy.
Sambo-Magaji, Founder She4Tech Initiative reiterated this on Thursday in Abuja, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in commemoration of the International women’s Day.
The day was celebrated under the theme `DigitAll: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality’.
The expert said that the world was becoming digitally transformed, adding that huge opportunities were inherent in technology and innovation which women also should benefit beneficiaries from.
“We are in an era where the whole world is becoming digitally transformed and huge opportunities are coming up every day.
“From statistics, women make up about 50 per cent of the global population and we already have a gender gap, so technology and innovation can address the digital gender divide.
“It is very key towards achieving the digital economy not just for Nigeria but globally and adopting technology can help us address the challenge.
“It is also important to get women on board to leverage on digital opportunities especially with the ever-widening global talent gap,’’ she said.
Sambo-Magaji added that there was still low representation of women in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
She said: ”This is because there is an already existing bias about female participation in the areas.
”It appears more challenging because sometimes women feel they cannot combine all their responsibilities with their career.”
She, however, acknowledged that there were various forms of advocacy going on at the global and local levels to encourage more women to participate in STEM, saying, ”because it is a global problem.
“In Nigeria, there are efforts to ensure that women are supported in their startups, as business owners and to be technology driven people in their organisations.
“There is need to make deliberate efforts in ensuring that women are brought on board to enable us have the advantage of the diversity and inclusion.
“We need to recognise that for us to achieve an inclusive digital gender agenda, we need to work collaboratively as stakeholder groups, both as government and private institutions,’’ Sambo-Magaji said.
She further said that technology should not be regarded as having gender limitation, adding, ”because creating technology solves the problem for everyone.”
Sambo-Magaji, added that the day was a reminder that women needed to be included in technology, innovation, and leadership positions.
According to her, everybody needs to be part of building the digital economy and leveraging on global opportunities in technology.
She disclosed that her foundation had in 2022 visited about 11 secondary schools in Kano and Gombe States to educate and build their interests towards studying STEM related courses.
“We were in 11 schools last year and the impact was massive, lots of them want to study STEM and we also taught them how they can use technology at the comfort of their houses.
“Some of them already perceived that technology is difficult, but we simplified it for them.
“We also engage in pep talks for children during the summer holidays, it is to guide them on career decisions.
“The end result is to have a mentoring platform where we can assign beneficiaries to a student to be mentored.
”Whatever career one chooses to study, everyone needs technology,” Sambo-Magaji added. (NAN)
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Tags: Dr Amina Sambo-Magaji Founder She4Tech Initiative
