CITAD Engages Bauchi Stakeholders On Digital Divide, Empowerment For Women

By Khalid Idris Doya, Bauchi  Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has engaged Bauchi stakeholders in digital literacy ...

By Khalid Idris Doya, Bauchi 

Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has engaged Bauchi stakeholders in digital literacy skills training, inclusion and empowerment programme for young women between the ages of 18 to 35 years within Northern Nigeria.

CITAD Gender Project Officer for addressing gender digital divide and enhancing business opportunities for women in Northern Nigeria (AGENDA- WIN) Zainab Aminu said, "We have been to Kano, Jigawa and today we are in Bauchi, next week we will be in Yobe state. These are the four selected implementation states that we are going to be carrying out the programme".

The Gender officer was speaking at the skills empowerment held at the Command Guest House in Bauchi, where she highlighted the aim of the AGENDA- WIN project with the support from Women in the Digital Economy Fund (WIDEF).

According to her, the of the stakeholders training is to get the support of all the stakeholders in the state to help in supporting and mobilising young women that will participate in the digital literacy training as well as sensitise young women and the public in general on the importance of digital skills.

Zainab said that the training was also aimed at helping the stakeholder to understand the context of the implementation stage of the project.

Aminu explained that the project further aims at addressing barriers that exclude women and girls from accessing digital opportunities, fostering equitable economic development in Nigeria.

"The world is moving towards digitalization, so women need to be involved in digitisation, especially for economic development. So we have gathered here to ensure that our stakeholders are aware that we are bringing this project to Bauchi state".

She further explained, "We want them to support us in creating awareness through the mobilization of young women from the grassroot areas of the state so that can participate in this digital  literacy programme".

"If you look at the existing digital space, in as much as people are having access to digital devices, you will notice that women are marginalized in exploring opportunities that the digital world brings, such as employment opportunities, job creation, and online businesses.

Zainab added, women have been marginalised in exploring a lot more opportunities, saying that "That is why we are training women so that they can utilise these digital spaces to promote economic resilience and reduce poverty within our states".

A traditional titleholder who participated in the programme, the Galadima of Bauchi, Surveyor Ibrahim Sa'idu Jahun assured of the traditional institution's support in the successful Implementation of the programme.

Galadima said, "I am here to give a goodwill for this programme which is very important, but its sustainability is the most important thing. We in the traditional institution will make sure that we support the programme to the highest level of implementation".

Also speaking, the deputy director National Orientation Agency (NOA), Bauchi state Mr. Adamu Sarki commended CITAD for organising the training for stakeholders, saying that the project when implemented will help breach gender divide and empower women in the state.

NOA said, "We commend the effort of CITAD for this training because gender digital divide is one of the impediments for women empowerment in Nigeria, especially in this era of digital economy.

"Without women being empowered digitally, they cannot cope with trends going on in the world. We thank CITAD for the foresight and we are happy that Bauchi is among the four states included to benefit immensely from the project".

Malam Adamu Sarki further stated "We, in Bauchi state are suffering from a lot of developmental issues, especially in the area of low level of literacy among women in addition to digital divide".