Nigeria’s digital sector has renewed calls for urgent and sustained action to address the gender imbalance in technology, where women remain significantly underrepresented in artificial intelligence and the wider ICT ecosystem.
This echoed in Abuja during the 2026 International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Girls in ICT Day, under the theme “AI for Development: Girls Shaping the Digital Future.” The programme brought together policymakers, technology experts, educators, and students to explore practical pathways for expanding girls’ participation in science and innovation.
Declaring the event open, the President and Chief Executive Officer of DBI, David Daser, represented by Viola Askia-Usoro,
The Director of Special Duties urged a shift from advocacy to concrete investment in girls’ tech education. He called for stronger funding for digital learning, safer online environments, and deliberate inclusion of young women in artificial intelligence and telecommunications careers, stressing that they must be positioned as future designers and leaders of technology, not just users.
He noted that the Federal Government is expanding training in coding, data science, AI ethics, and telecommunications engineering to strengthen female participation in the sector. Daser also highlighted global and Nigerian women pioneers in technology, underscoring the long-standing but often overlooked role of women in shaping digital innovation.
The Chief Executive Officer of HerCode Technology Initiative, Oluchi Ada Ufomadu, said artificial intelligence presents a major opportunity for girls to achieve economic independence and contribute meaningfully to national development. She, however, noted that women currently account for only about 20 per cent of the global tech and AI workforce. Considering Nigeria’s youth population and the demographics of girls, she describes the gap as urgent, requiring deliberate intervention.
Participants, including Deborah Onu of Government Secondary School Garki, Abuja and Joy Oluamachumwu Anyi of Miva Open University, Abuja, described the programme as transformative, saying exposure to digital tools and AI improved their learning experience and broadened their understanding of future career possibilities in technology. Organisers emphasised that such initiatives remain critical to building confidence among young women and ensuring inclusive participation in Nigeria’s digital economy.
