[Review]: Women Support in Tech Can be a Booster to Economic Growth -By Caleb Onah

The future of nations, businesses and individuals will depend more than ever on their adoption of technology. Economic dynamism and wealth creation in developed countries is closely linked to technological advances as well as innovation and digital transformation. Today, most of the largest companies by market capitalisation in the world are technology companies that derive most of their revenue from the digital ecosystems they have created. This is a significant change between the early 2000s and today.

However, active involvement of women and girls in digital technology and innovation, as well as their engagement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), is of great importance to global economies and the transition towards sustainability. This was highlighted by ministers and government officials during a United Nations general discussion at the sixty-seventh session of the Commission on the Status of Women.

Dorothy Estrada Tanck, Chair of the Working Group of the Human Rights Council on discrimination against women and girls, emphasized the crucial roles played by girls and young women worldwide as human rights defenders and agents of change. Often excluded from formal decision-making processes, they find other ways to participate in public life, including online spaces.

However, they face various challenges such as limited access to education, professional training, and economic opportunities. Smriti Irani, the Minister for Women and Children Development of India, highlighted the initiatives in her country that promote science and technology education for girls, with approximately 123 million girls enrolled in such programs.

Additionally, efforts are being made to train rural women and marginalized individuals in using mobile phones and other critical tools. Unlike many other parts of the world, India has achieved near gender parity in STEM engagement. Irani mentioned the “STEM Stars” online campaign, which celebrates women who have excelled in science and technology.

Anna Koukkides-Procopiou, the Minister for Justice and Public Order of Cyprus, emphasized that the education and training of women in information technologies are key components of Cyprus’ national action plan for gender equality. Increasing women’s participation in the digital sector could lead to a significant boost of €16 billion in the European Union’s gross domestic product (GDP). She called for bridging the gender digital divide, promoting female employment and entrepreneurship, and addressing labour market inequalities to enhance women’s professional prospects and their active participation in society. In contrast to many countries in Europe, North America, and Asia, several African countries, including Nigeria, have faced challenges in technological innovation.

To build a strong foundation for economic growth, experts in Nigeria emphasised the need for consistent investments in research and development. The information and communication technology (ICT) sector has shown substantial growth, contributing 18.44% to Nigeria’s GDP in the second quarter of 2022, compared to less than 1% in 2001. However, the tech ecosystem in Nigeria remains predominantly male-dominated, with only a small number of women participating.

Research conducted by the ONE Campaign and the Centre for Global Development revealed that only about 30% of surveyed technology companies in Nigeria are owned by women, and a significant portion of these companies employ no women at all. Nigeria’s low ranking in the 2021 Global Gender Gap Report at 139 out of 153 countries highlights the uneven representation of men and women in the country’s technology ecosystem.

This disparity can be attributed to factors such as poverty, cultural biases against girl-child education, and a lack of funding and mentorship opportunities for women-led ventures. However, promoting women’s participation in technology is crucial not only for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5 of gender equality by 2030 but also for fostering innovation through diverse perspectives.

Further, Pitso Lesaoana, the Minister for Gender, Youth, Sports, Arts, Culture, and Social Development of Lesotho, highlighted the challenges faced by rural communities in accessing digital tools due to infrastructural limitations, affordability issues, and a lack of education. However, many women in Lesotho benefit from mobile commerce, media and financial services.

The country’s Gender and Development Policy (2018-2030) aims to address gender disparities and inequality, eliminate discrimination, combat gender-based violence, and reduce poverty from a gender-equality perspective. Lesotho has also enacted acts that tackle underlying challenges rooted in social norms and legal barriers – which is a step Nigeria can follow.