In three cohorts (batches), 1600 women in the oil region have been moved to ‘tech-savvy’ status and have graduated in a training scheme organized by the Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN).
The graduation ceremony took place in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Tuesday, February 11, 2025, where SDN programme officers explained the deep gap they found and want to close through the ‘Women-led Digital Skills Training Programme.’
SDN was established in 2004 as a non-governmental and not-for-profit organisation to support communities in the Niger Delta that live with the day-to-day impacts of the oil and gas industry, weak governance, insecurity, a lack of jobs, and wider environmental and climate challenges.
Read also: Bridging gap in tech: NGO graduates over 100 women from digital skills program
They say they work with communities, governments, civil society, and the private sector to identify and implement solutions to these challenges, promoting sustainable development and protecting human rights – including the right to a healthy environment.
SDN’s ‘Reducing the Digital Gender Gaps in the Niger Delta’ project is indicated as a vital initiative focused on addressing gender disparities in the digital sphere, fostering female tech entrepreneurship, and empowering women in the region to engage with emerging technologies and their applications.
Officials said since its commencement in 2023, SDN has successfully delivered a three-month digital skills training programme to 1600 women in Rivers State (in batches), equipping them with in-demand digital skills such as Data Analytics, Digital Marketing, Cyber security, and Graphics design.
Florence Ibok Abak, SDN’s country director, said: “We are excited to celebrate their achievements and recognise their enthusiasm and dedication, thus, reaffirming the importance and impact of our project in empowering women and promoting gender equality in the Niger Delta.”
She described it as a remarkable programme for the SDN which she said started since 2017, adding that it is an important progress in the region and in the activities to lift up the region.
“It requires the beneficiaries to think outside the box, and find how to add value to themselves. We advise you not to stop here. Globally, there are many opportunities for women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), so get involved.”
She explained that the project came after a study revealed that women were scanty in the tech world in the region. “Even when you offer them free training, the few that turned up lost interest quickly. So, we had to come up with a project that could get women interested so as to close the gender tech gap.”
In a keynote address, Anita Okonweze urged the women to let their activities promote support for women. “You are able, and you can do it. There is need for consistency. SDN seeks consistency and all those who have succeeded have shown consistency.”
In his exhortation on next steps, Opara Chiekezi (Head, MEAL), reminded the beneficiaries that the scheme was not just about getting trained but to seek to get results out of the effort.
“We thus need evidence of knowledge you have acquired, evidence of applicability, and evidence of transformation in your lives. We saw gap in the Niger Delta in women in tech, and this programme therefore is to make you (women in the Niger Delta) employable.”
He said the scheme expected at least 20% of the beneficiaries to be determined to succeed and show consistency like some success stories in the past. “We want to see some of you build their own brands, their own tech brands, get big jobs, etc. That is success we want to see.”
He said their success stories were what would convince the UK sponsors to continue to sponsor the scheme or scale it up to other states in the oil region. He advised them to ensure they joined the platform for networking where opportunities are made open.
Some of the beneficiaries said they have become better mothers and wives who can easily give support to their children in tech matters. Some of them said they well paid data analysists and brand builders.
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
