CITAD launches digital skills project to boost Northern women’s empowerment

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has launched a new initiative aimed at bridging the gender digital divide and expanding economic opportunities for women and girls in Northern Nigeria.

The project, known as Addressing the Gender Digital Divide and Expanding Business Opportunities for Women in Northern Nigeria (Agenda-WINNIG), will equip women with digital skills and training to enable them participate more actively in the digital economy.

Fatima Babakura, Project Officer, said the initiative was designed to strengthen women’s digital capacity while opening pathways for economic advancement.

The town hall meetings were organised in Rano for Kano South, Bichi for Kano North, and Kano Municipal for Kano Central, bringing together stakeholders, community members and potential beneficiaries.

Babakura explained that the 18-month project would be implemented in Kano and Bauchi States, with a focus on providing practical digital training and creating opportunities for women to remain engaged in the digital ecosystem even after the programme ends.

According to her, the project targets women and girls between the ages of 16 and 40, including secondary school students, women who did not complete secondary education, and graduates seeking digital skills to improve their economic prospects.

She added that the programme would cover basic digital literacy, online safety, and digital hygiene, locally referred to as Na’ura Tsaftacecciya. It will also include a Training of Trainers component for staff and volunteers from partner organisations to ensure sustainability.

Babakura further noted that final-year secondary school girls will receive coaching to prepare them for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

In his goodwill message, Sunusi Uba, Kano Zonal Education Director for the Rano Zone, commended the initiative, describing it as a critical step toward inclusive development.

He said empowering women with digital knowledge would have far-reaching benefits for communities and the broader society.

“When women are digitally empowered, the whole society progresses. This initiative is like planting seeds today for a harvest of knowledge and prosperity tomorrow,” Uba said.

He also urged participants to make the most of the opportunity, stressing that the knowledge gained could help them innovate, grow businesses and contribute meaningfully to the digital economy.