NCC commits to bridging digital gender divide
By Ruth Omosayin
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reiterated its commitment to bridging gender-oriented digital divide to accelerate inclusive economic prosperity for all Nigerians.
This was contained in a statement issued by NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, on Thursday.
According to the statement, the Executive Vice Chairman of the commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, restated this at the 2022 Nigerian Women Entrepreneurs and Executives in Tech Summit (WEETS), held in Lagos State.
He noted that the gender dimensions of ICT, manifests in access and use, capacity-building opportunities, employment and potential for empowerment, all needed to be explicitly identified and addressed, to leverage on technology and communication as powerful catalysts for political, economic, and social empowerment of women, and the promotion of gender equality.
Speaking on the theme of the event, ‘Reskilling Women and Girls to Thrive in the Digital Economy’, Danbatta, who was represented by NCC’s Head, Digital Media Management, Nafisa Usman Rugga, said the theme resonates deeply with the drive by the Federal Government to ensure an all-inclusive digital economy that drives the strategic vision plan of the commission.
Danbatta who was conferred with the ‘Icon of Digital Revolution Award’ for his role in stimulating digital connectivity in Nigeria, said promotion of gender equality is a major component of ICT development.
He expressed his appreciation to organisers, Techlife Media and Communications Limited, a Lagos-based media organisation, for the iconic recognition of his contribution to Nigeria’s digital progression, which he said is an encouragement that he would dedicate to the entire NCC team of professionals that are dedicated to the digital revolution in the country.
The vice chairman lso commended the organisation for holding forth its annual gathering that pivots discussions on promotion of digital access, skills and knowledge among the women and girls in Nigeria.
He explained that one of the ways through which the commission strives to achieve an inclusive growth, is through increased digital connectivity to all, regardless of gender and other accidental circumstances.
“The NCC has put in the front burner the need to expose girls and young women to more opportunities in the digital ecosystem, in line with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) resolution 70, which advocates gender mainstreaming and promotion of gender equality, as well as the empowerment of women through information and communications technology (ICT), and we are fully committed to this,” Danbatta said.
The organisers, while justifying the reason for conferring the award on Nigeria’s chief telecoms regulator, said Danbatta deserved the award for blazing the trail in accelerating digital revolution in Nigeria, especially with the historic auction of 3.5 GHz spectrum in a fair, transparent, and credible manner.