The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has welcomed the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) initiative to promote women’s leadership in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector, describing it as a step toward addressing gender disparities in digital leadership and policy-making.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its Gender Coordinator, Fatima Babakura, the organisation said the initiative aligns with efforts to build a more inclusive digital ecosystem in the country.
According to the statement, the development reinforces CITAD’s long-standing advocacy for increased participation of women in digital policy formulation and leadership across Nigeria’s ICT sector.
The organisation recalled that in 2023 it implemented the Incubating Young Female Digital Policy Leaders for Engendering Digital Policy Making in Nigeria project to tackle the underrepresentation of women in digital policy processes.
It said the project equipped young women with skills in digital policy analysis, internet governance, telecommunications policy, digital rights, cybersecurity, data governance, artificial intelligence and digital inclusion.
CITAD also referenced its research titled, A Head Count on Women Participation in Digital Policy Making in ICT Related Agencies in Nigeria, which found low representation of women in the boards and management of major ICT institutions.
“The findings showed that women occupied only a small proportion of leadership positions in institutions responsible for shaping Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda, falling short of the aspirations contained in Nigeria’s National Gender Policy,” the statement said.
The organisation added that the gender digital divide extends beyond access to technology.
“The study further demonstrated that the gender digital divide extends beyond unequal access to digital technologies. It is also reflected in unequal access to spaces where digital policies are conceived, negotiated, and implemented,” it stated.
CITAD noted that it had developed a policy brief recommending increased representation of women in ICT leadership, leadership development programmes, institutional gender policies, regular gender audits and stronger accountability mechanisms.
While commending the NCC’s initiative, the organisation argued that leadership development alone would not address existing structural barriers.
“Leadership development programmes should not be viewed as standalone interventions. Sustainable progress requires institutional reforms that deliberately remove barriers limiting women’s advancement into decision-making positions,” the statement said.
It added that gender-responsive digital policy-making is necessary to ensure Nigeria’s digital transformation benefits all citizens.
“Women’s perspectives are critical in shaping decisions on digital access, online safety, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data governance, digital rights, and emerging technologies,” the statement added.
CITAD urged the NCC to integrate gender inclusion into its institutional policies, recruitment processes, leadership development frameworks and governance structures.
The organisation also called on other ICT agencies, including the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), Galaxy Backbone, Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), and the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, to adopt similar initiatives.
It further urged policymakers, regulators, development partners and private sector organisations to set measurable targets for women’s participation in digital governance.
“CITAD remains committed to working collaboratively with government institutions, regulators, civil society organisations, academia, development partners, and the private sector to promote evidence-based, gender-responsive digital governance that leaves no one behind,” the statement concluded.
