INTRODUCTION
On the 15 th of October, 2024 the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD)
in partnership with Nigeria Internet Governance Forum held the 6 edition of the Women
Internet Governance Forum (WIGF). WIGF was part of the 2024 Internet Governance Forum
yearly events. The theme for this year was Promoting a Gender-Sensitive Internet: Women
Inclusivity in the Digital Transformation.
The objectives of the forum were to:
Discuss on how to promote a gender-sensitive internet
Provide ways that will promote women inclusivity in decision-making within the digital
space.
Outline strategies to tackle the challenges of women's exclusion from internet.
Propose policy recommendations to address women's underrepresentation in internet
decision-making.
Create campaign plan to promote a gender sensitive internet and women inclusivity in
digital transformation.
While the aim of the 2024 WIGF was to:
Provide a discussion platform, especially among women on how to develop strategies to
addressing issues reinforcing women marginalization in digital transformation, decision
processes and promote a gender-sensitive internet.
INTRODUCTION
The keynote speaker at the 2024 WIGF was Comrade Ene Obi, the immediate past Country
Director Action Aid Nigeria. Madam Ene made her presentation on the theme for the year.
Madam Mary Uduma, Chair, West Africa IGF, Aminu Naganye, Editor, WikiTimes and Ali Isah,
Artificial Intelligence Research Fellow, Fact-Check Africa served as the chairs of the opening
lecture and the two technical sessions that were held. The two sessions featured six speakers
and discussed on the following topics;
1. Gender-Based Violence Online: Way Forward
2. Promoting Internet Inclusivity: Prospects and Challenges
OBSERVATIONS:
After rigorous discussions, the participants at the forum observed the followings:
Digital Gender Gap: The disparity between men and women in accessing digital
technologies remains significant. Barriers such as socio-economic factors, lack of
education, limited digital literacy, cultural restrictions, and religious factors
disproportionately affect women.
Online Harassment and Cybersecurity: Women face higher risks of harassment and
gender-based violence both online and offline. This often leads to reduced participation
by women in the digital space, particularly in leadership roles.
Underrepresentation of Women: Women remain underrepresented in decision-making
roles, especially in technology development and policy formulation, contributing to the
gender imbalance online.
Barriers to Digital Literacy: In underserved communities, women often lack the digital
literacy needed to engage fully in the online world, limiting their access to educational,
employment, and social opportunities.
Opportunities in the Digital Economy: Digital transformation offers significant
opportunities for women, particularly in entrepreneurship and access to education and
financial services. However, systemic biases continue to hinder women’s full
participation.
Economic Barriers: High costs of internet access, infrastructure, and digital devices
prevent many women, especially those in rural communities from engaging in the digital
economy.
Cultural and Social Barriers: Cultural norms, particularly in Northern Nigeria, discourage
women from pursuing careers in STEM and limit their access to technology. In some
communities, men express concerns over their wives’ internet usage due to fears about
negative online content.
Technophobia and Online Harassment: A lack of familiarity with digital tools
contributes to technophobia, especially in rural areas, preventing women from utilizing
technology effectively. Online bullying and harassment further discourage their
participation on digital platforms.
Language Barriers: Many online platforms lack local language options, which limits rural
women’s ability to navigate the internet and engage in digital spaces.
Inadequate Government Initiatives: Previous government efforts, such as the 2019
Commission for Digital Economy initiative have not yielded substantial outcomes for
gender inclusion in technology. The underrepresentation of women in government ICT
leadership remains a challenge.
Recommendations:
Based on the observations made the participants recommend the followings
Close the Digital Divide: Governments and stakeholders should invest in infrastructure
and policies that ensure equal access to the internet for women, particularly in rural
areas.
Internet Affordability: government and other stakeholders should ensure affordable
internet access is prioritized for underserved communities.
Safe Digital Spaces for Women: Collaboration among governments, civil society, and
tech companies is essential to create stronger regulations addressing online harassment
and cybercrimes targeting women.
Platforms and web applications should be built with gender sensitivity to encourage
women’s participation.
Promote Digital Literacy Programs: Education and training programs targeting women,
especially those from marginalized groups, should be expanded. These could include
initiatives like coding boot camps, digital marketing workshops, and financial technology
training.
Empower Women in Decision-Making: government and CSOs should Support women’s
participation in internet governance through mentorship, leadership programs, and
decision-making roles. This could involve deliberate mentorship programs and
leadership development initiatives aimed at increasing women’s influence in policy-
making.
Support Female Entrepreneurs: Governments and private sector actors should provide
resources, funding, and mentorship for women in the digital economy. Creating
dedicated funds or grants for women-led businesses and organizations can help close
the gap.
Enhance Rural Connectivity: Governments and private organizations should collaborate
to improve internet infrastructure in rural areas, ensuring that technological tools
available in urban areas are also accessible in underserved regions.
Mentorship and Engagement: Women should actively mentor younger girls by
introducing them to business centers and digital technologies. Continuous forums like
the Women Internet Governance Forum can motivate more women to assume
leadership roles.
Capacity Building in Digital Rights Protection: judiciary should be empowered to
protect women’s digital rights and address online harassment effectively.
School curriculum should be updated, and digital literacy programs, including free
computer distribution should target rural areas.
Economic Support and Affordable Access: government and tech companies should
provide affordable internet and infrastructure, especially for women from low-income
or marginalized backgrounds, while organizations should donate computers and offer
free digital skills training.
Policy Implementation for Digital Inclusivity: Governments must implement policies
that protect freedom of speech and ensure digital inclusivity for women, persons with
disabilities, and marginalized groups.
Advocacy: groups and organizations should intensify advocacy and push for the
recognition of internet access as a right, not a privilege.
Foster Digital Citizenship and Awareness: Public awareness campaigns should be
initiated to promote responsible digital behaviors, reduce online discrimination, and
promote women’s rights in digital spaces.
Language Inclusivity: To overcome language barriers, local languages should be
promoted in online spaces, allowing rural women to engage more effectively in the
digital environment.
Utilize Digital Centers Effectively: Underutilized digital centers in rural areas should be
improved with reliable power and internet connectivity to promote women’s
participation in the digital economy. A clear example of this, is the CITAD Hello World
initiative.
