The United Nations Resident Coordinator, Matthias Schmale, has said the International Women’s Day ((IWD) has identified the exclusion of women from the digital world tp have shaved $1 trillion from the GDP of low- and middle-income countries including Nigeria over the past decade.

He also said IWD should be used to remember the many challenges women still faced in their daily lives such as gender-based violence, discrimination, marginalization.

In his message on the IWD, he said the day celebrated worldwide on March 8 was a call-to-action to stand up for women’s fundamental rights, to strengthen protection against violence and abuse, and to accelerate women’s participation in the economic, social, and political life of Nigeria.

He explained that this year’s theme “DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality” focuses on how innovations and technology can enhance gender equality and women’s empowerment, although women account for nearly half the world’s population, 259 million fewer women have access to the Internet than men.

He noted that “this digital gender gap comes with massive costs,” adding that: “according to a report from UN Women, the exclusion of women from the digital world has shaved $1 trillion from the GDP of low- and middle-income countries including Nigeria over the past decade.

He recalled that one of the many formidable women of this country, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (now heading up the World Trade Organization), once said that “investing in women is smart economics, and investing in girls, catching them upstream, is even smarter economics.”

He agreed that this was undoubtedly true, noting that closing the digital gender divide would be smart economics for Nigeria and for its development aspirations.

He said: “Innovations and technology should be a major part of the services of the Government of Nigeria. The country’s development partners including the UN must help close the digital gender gap and improve the lives of Nigerian women and girls.

“One of the areas we should invest in is rural women’s access to mobile phones. Having opportunities for mobile transfers, improves their opportunities to sell agricultural products. Mobile phone access enhances women’s economic productivity and facilitates direct market access. In parts of Nigeria where there is the additional challenge of insecurity, mobile phones are essential for women and girls.

“A second area worthy of investment is in digital platforms for women entrepreneurs. They are key to bridging the gender gap in business and the economy. Through digital platforms and apps, women entrepreneurs can reach more customers and learn more about their businesses through live feedback.”

He also said: “The private sector is key to advancing gender equality through innovations and technology . The private sector, particularly venture capital, can be a powerful force in removing barriers and driving progress for women’s entrepreneurship by providing digital platforms and resources that are otherwise inaccessible to women.”

Schmale said: “We must promote digital literacy in primary and secondary schools to enhance the employability and skills of young women.

While, insisting that policy action and decision-making rely on evidence-based information, he noted that: “It is important that we invest in innovations and technology that would improve data collection and analysis. This would equip government and policy makers with strong evidence for the benefits to Nigeria of gender equality and women’s empowerment.”

He advises that: “As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2023, let’s keep investment in innovations and technology at the centre of our transformative agenda. Closing the digital gender gap will help us achieve a better Nigeria and a better world for all.”

However,President Muhammadu Buhari joins Nigerian women in celebrating the International Women’s Day (IWD), observed on March 8, recognizing the invaluable role women have played in advancing the progress of the country since independence.

The President salutes the hardwork and dedication of Nigerian women working tirelessly and achieving results in different fields of endeavor, from those sacrificing daily in the markets and farms to train the next generation of leaders, to those breaking limits in education, sports, medical field, arts, entertainment and even in politics, where they are still largely under-represented.

The President is proud to have worked and associated with some of Nigeria’s brightest women in his cabinet, government and the international community.

He commendd the amazons who have served meritoriously as partners in the progress witnessed on the political, economic and social fronts.

He notes that, against all obstacles, these women in leadership positions have delivered in a society still largely dominated by men.

President Buhari welcomes the contributions of role models and women who have demonstrated that through hardwork, dedication and honesty, greatness can be achieved.

He pledges the commitment of government to promoting gender equality, respect for the rights of women and working conscientiously to remove all barriers that prevent Nigerian women from realising their universal rights.

On the theme of IWD 2023, “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”, President Buhari believes that his administration has leveraged on the creation of a ministry dedicated to digital economy to promote the importance of digital skills, innovation and entrepreneurship for the girl-child.

As Nigeria builds on the successes of the digital economy sector, which is the most successful in the diversification of the nation’s economy, and the Start-up Act, which creates endless opportunities to Nigerians in the technology space, the President trusts that women and girls in the country will have access to equal opportunities, live their dreams and contribute immensely to the development of the country.