JUSTUS ADEJUMOH
The United Nations Observance of International Women’s Day (IWD) recognises and celebrates the women and girls who are championing the advancement of transformative technology and digital education.
This gender across the world, including Nigeria, have been impacting their respective societies in the capacity
Bringing women and other marginalised groups into technology results in more creative solutions and has greater potential for innovations that meet women’s needs and promote gender equality.
Their lack of inclusion, by contrast, comes with massive costs: as per UN Women’s Gender Snapshot 2022 report, women’s exclusion from the digital world has shaved $1 trillion from the gross domestic product of low- and middle-income countries in the last decade—a loss that will grow to $1.5 trillion by 2025 without action.
Reversing this trend will require tackling the problem of online violence, which a study of 51 countries revealed 38 per cent of women had personally experienced.
A gender-responsive approach to innovation, technology and digital education can increase the awareness of women and girls regarding their rights and civic engagement. Advancements in digital technology offer immense opportunities to address development and humanitarian challenges, and to achieve the 2030 Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Unfortunately, the opportunities of the digital revolution also present a risk of perpetuating existing patterns of gender inequality.
Growing inequalities are becoming increasingly evident in the context of digital skills and access to technologies, with women being left behind as the result of this digital gender divide.
The need for inclusive and transformative technology and digital education is therefore crucial for a sustainable future.
According to a 2023 report by Forbes, a little more than 25% of jobs in the sector were held by women.
Another study by McKinsey stated that businesses with greater gender diversity were likely to have a 15% average improvement in terms of performance.
Diverse teams have been seen to provide improvements in innovation, economic growth, and product design.
The tech industry, which men have long dominated, has recognized the importance of improving gender diversity.
In Nigeria, recognising the increasing global demand for a workforce proficient in both basic digital literacy and advanced technological skills, Kashifu Inuwa, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has reaffirmed the agency’s unwavering commitment to collaborating and empowering women to bridge the digital gender gap in Nigeria.
Inuwa said empowering women aligns with one of NITDA’s core pillars “Fostering Digital Literacy and Cultivating Talent” as outlined in the Agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan 2.0.
He disclosed ongoing efforts to develop a National Digital Gender Inclusion Strategy aimed at addressing the historical dominance of men in previously launched initiatives.
He added that there is need for a minimum of 40% women representation across all NITDA initiatives to create a conducive environment for women to thrive in the technology sector.
Inuwa further shared NITDA’s commitment to supporting women, citing collaborative efforts with the World Bank to provide digital literacy training for women.
On this year’s International Women’s Day, some female leaders expressed their thoughts on the growing role of women in driving innovation and the need for more inclusive workplace cultures.
Rebecca Clay, Vice President, Client Success, Virdee, said: “With my entire career being tech, I have primarily worked in male-dominated fields. Over the years, I have enjoyed seeing a pivot in the tech start-up space where women are becoming more prevalent. Women are increasingly filling leadership roles and showing how effective we are in engineering and technical fields. It has been an uphill battle, so the acceptance of women in engineering and technical roles is something very special to me.
“International Women’s Day calls for companies to be inclusive and find diverse talent. Employing a range of unique individuals allows a company to have a dynamic team. Diverse voices help us to provide the best care to all customers, which is super important.”
On her part, Erica Cronan, Global Director of Marketing, Datadobi noted: “I love International Women’s Day—it’s like a global pep rally celebrating how far we ladies have come while firing us up to keep that momentum raging. You can’t help but feel inspired thinking about the bold trailblazers throughout history who broke down barriers against all odds.
The unstoppable suffragettes and straight-up heroes like RBG, Amelia Earhart, and Serena— those unapologetic women—heard “no” and “you can’t” as a challenge to demolish.
“Because of their grit and vision, we now get to chase any ambition without archaic limits or questioning our equality as women.
We’re CEOs, world leaders, and champion athletes because they kicked open doors that used to be locked shut. Of course, there’s still work to be done. But on this day, I like reveling in how women have repeatedly defied the haters, proving our limitless potential.”
For Danya Iyengar, Global Director, Human Resources, Index Engines, “It’s an exciting time for us women! We have made significant strides in technological inventions, challenging stereotypes and reshaping the industry’s landscape.
Women in technology have played instrumental roles in designing innovative solutions, fostering diversity of thought, and inspiring the next generation of female leaders in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
“We have shattered glass ceilings, proving that gender is not a barrier to making groundbreaking advancements. In our organization, the contributions of our female colleagues have been pivotal in fields ranging from artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to software development and the war on ransomware. All our efforts as women are key in cultivating a tech industry that reflects all its professionals’ diverse perspectives and talents.”
The role of women in technology extends beyond technical positions to include vital roles within Human Resources (HR). In the technology sector, HR often plays a crucial role in designing and implementing strategies to attract, retain, and promote talent sans gender bias.
“Women in tech-focused HR roles contribute significantly to building equitable and innovative workplaces that empower everyone to thrive.
Admitting some challenges women face and how to resolve them, Belinda Jurisic, Vice President Channel Strategy and Management, Veeam, said: “There are unique challenges and obstacles that we as women face that men cannot always relate to.
“I believe some of these obstacles are similar, yet how we react and act to them makes it unique. Having a female peer or colleague you can talk and share with, someone who can validate what you feel is ‘normal,’ is priceless.
“From a working woman with children to a working woman without children, to a woman starting in her career to one having to deal with hormone overdrive at 50, having someone who can really relate to and understand makes us feel more ‘normal.’ And, for me, having someone to share ideas and how to deal with these obstacles is so valuable.”
Sandy Mahla, District Sales Manager, Datadobi, expressed optimism for women’s future through technology.
“International Women’s Day (IWD) is a good time to both reflect and set our sights on the work that remains. As a working woman in a field still dominated by men, I see how far women have come through sheer grit, determination, and necessity to provide for ourselves and our families. The battles fought by previous generations like Grace Hopper, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and our moms and aunts make our journey easier. I am grateful for organizations like Datadobi that provide opportunities for employees to thrive based on their merits and contribute to their full potential,” she explained.
In Nigeria, some women rising in the technology sector include: Tope Omotolani: Co-founder and CEO Crowdyvest; Ifedayo Durosinmi-Etti: Aniekan Inyang: Stears Data Scientist; Adora Nwodo: Microsoft Software Engineer; Yanmo Omorogbe: Co-founder and COO Bamboo; Ruth Iselema: CEO Bitmama; Fara Ashiru Jibutoh: CEO and CTA Okra, among others.
Promoting gender diversity and creating inclusive environments can help the tech industry ensure that the best and brightest talent come together to create innovative solutions that benefit more people. Some women already in tech have been very inspirational and have shown numerous potential ways forward for the sector. While the industry still has a long way to go, the situation is improving.
