By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has reiterated its commitment to bring women into the digital sector, which has reduced $1 trillion from the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of low- and middle-income countries.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Ms Pauline Tallen, made this disclosure ahead of an event in commemoration of the 2023 International Women’s Day (IWD). The event, which will be marked on Wednesday, March 8, is themed DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.
According to her, bringing women and other marginalised groups into technology has greater potential for innovations that meet women’s needs and promote gender equality.
“The lack of women inclusion, by contrast, comes with massive costs and, according to the UN Women 2022 Snap Short Report, women’s exclusion from the digital world.
“This has reduced one trillion dollars from the GDP of low- and middle-income countries in the last decade.
“This loss will grow to $1.5 trillion by 2025 without action.
“Reversing this trend, according to the report, will require tackling the problem of online violence, which 38 per cent of women had personally experienced,” she said.
The minister stressed the need for a gender-responsive approach to innovation, technology, and digital education that could increase the awareness of women and girls regarding their rights and civic engagement.
She also called for the adoption of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) courses by girls to address discrimination and gender bias and improve participation in all spheres.
“I, therefore, ask that teachers and educational institutions be supported to consciously remove gender biases and stereotypes in our educational environments, textbooks, and didactic materials.
“It starts with making women’s contributions to STEM visible, including through connecting young women and girls with STEM professionals and mentors,” she said.
On his part, Mr Marthias Schumale, UN resident Coordinator, said they would enhance the involvement of women and girls in technology to increase gender inclusion.
“We will continue to invest in technology. And as we do that, we will prioritise women and girls because collectively, we can make the world of technology and innovation inclusive by working together,” he said.
Also, Ms Uller Mueller, UNFPA Country Representative, harped on the role technology plays in expanding networks, opportunities, and minds.
Ms Mueller, represented by Ms Erika Goldson, UNFPA Deputy Representative, however, noted that technology was increasingly misused and weaponised, with women and girls disproportionately targeted.
“This can take the form of image-based abuse, sextortion, harassment, hate speech, cyberbullying and doxing.
“Data tell us that 97 per cent of girls between 11 to 16 years in Nigeria have experienced unwanted sexual approaches in chat rooms, social networking sites or emails.
“Over 7.89 per cent of this group have been sent sexual images or content, and 57 per cent of women have had their videos or images online abused or misused,” she said.
She added that UNFPA was developing safety and ethics guidelines for practitioners designing technology for gender-based violence prevention and response.
Ms Mueller said that technology companies are engaged in involving women in design processes from the outset.
“Technology is essential to advancing gender equality. When women and girls can access and use technology safely, they can amplify their voices and exercise their agency and autonomy.
“This is giving them a platform that can transform their future – and ours,” she said.