The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has revealed that young female entrepreneurs in Nigeria are more educated than their male counterparts. This significant finding was shared by NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, during the Women Entrepreneurs and Executives in Tech Summit (WEETS) 2024 in Lagos. Inuwa was represented at the event by Engr. Falilat Jimoh, Head of Innovation and Digital Inclusion at NITDA.
Inuwa emphasized the crucial role of female entrepreneurship in driving economic growth. Citing various reports, he noted that 52.2% of young female entrepreneurs possess at least a bachelor’s degree, compared to only 42.8% of their male counterparts. This highlights the increasing influence of women in Nigeria’s entrepreneurial landscape.
He further referenced the 2023 State of Entrepreneurship in Nigeria report, revealing that female-led startups have risen to 46% this year, up from 39% in 2022. “This growth signifies the important contributions of women in shaping the entrepreneurial environment,” Inuwa stated.
Commitment to Women Empowerment
Inuwa reiterated NITDA’s commitment to enhancing women’s participation in the technology sector through various initiatives, particularly the Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan 2024-2027, which aims to ensure equal access to digital resources. “We are targeting a 40% participation rate for women in all our capacity-building and skills development initiatives,” he added, underscoring NITDA’s efforts to empower women in the digital economy.
A key initiative mentioned was NITDA’s Digital Literacy for All (DL4All) program, designed to equip Nigerians, particularly women, with essential digital skills. Inuwa stressed that empowering women in the digital sector is vital for advancing Nigeria’s economy and tech industry. “NITDA is dedicated to propelling national progress through a more digitally enabled economy, and we firmly believe that women’s involvement is essential to developing Nigeria’s tech sector,” he said.
Women in Artificial Intelligence
Highlighting the importance of women in the growing digital economy, Inuwa referred to the Global Gender Gap Report of 2023, which states that women constitute 30% of the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) workforce and 39% of all workers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. He noted the growing significance of equipping women to participate in Nigeria’s digital economy, especially in AI, which Forbes estimates will reach a market size of $407 billion by 2027, a significant increase from $86.9 billion in 2022.
Ugochi Emmanuel, the convener of the WEETS Summit, also underscored the pivotal role of women in AI and technology. She affirmed the WEETS Foundation’s commitment to bridging the gap between women and the digital economy by offering advanced digital skills training and mentorship programs. “It is our collective responsibility to ensure that these opportunities are seized and expanded,” she urged, encouraging women to take full advantage of the burgeoning opportunities in AI and business.
