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Gender inequality identified in the global distribution of digital technology, and the attendant loss to humanity and society deserve more than cursory attention in Nigeria particularly, and in the world generally.
Give or take, women represent half of global and sub-national populations; and for that alone, they should not be seen to lag behind in an area that defines the future. As the world, therefore, grapples with the problem, it is important that Nigeria is not left behind; but that will be subject to the pro-activities of relevant authorities.
Significantly, the 2023 International Women Day still being celebrated worldwide since March 8, 2023 has embraced the theme: “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.” This theme is aligned with the priority theme for the 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW-67), “Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.”
Ms. Sima Bahous, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, in her closing statement to the 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women said that this year’s Commission on the Status of Women has set the global normative framework on gender equality, technology and innovation that will shape the lives of women and girls right across the world.
So, IWD 2023 recognises and celebrates the women and girls who are championing the advancement of transformative technology and digital education. It explores the impact of the digital gender gap on widening economic and social inequalities; and spotlighted the importance of protecting the rights of women and girls in digital spaces and addressing online and ICT-facilitated gender-based violence.
Obviously, the 2023 IWD theme may be hinged on the UN Women’s Gender Snapshot 2022 Report, which states that women’s exclusion from the digital world has shaved $1 trillion from the gross domestic product of low-and middle-income countries in the last decade; a loss that will grow to $1.5 trillion by 2025 without action.
According to UN Women “In focus: International Women’s Day”, Women make up only 22 per cent of artificial intelligence workers globally. A global analysis of 133 AI systems across industries found that 44.2 per cent demonstrate gender bias. Similarly, The Mobile Gender Gap Report 2020 states that gender gap in mobile internet use in low and middle-income countries remains substantial, with over 300 million fewer women than men accessing the Internet on a mobile; with sub-Saharan Africa as the second largest gender gap at 37 per cent. Thus, a persistent gender gap in digital access keeps women from unlocking technology’s full potential.
Again, their underrepresentation in STEM education and careers remains a major barrier to their participation in tech design and governance. So, while there is a significant shift in the traditional concept of womanhood and an increasing presence of women in medicine, law and business; there is a growing concern that there are few women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
The implication of having less females in STEM-related fields is that females have less than two-thirds of the economic opportunity that men have as the fourth industrial revolution starts because the job of the future will be driven by technology and innovation, which STEM subjects shape.
If the gender divide in STEM is not bridged soon, the overall gap in gender balance of employees is likely to widen as it will limit females from maximising their economic potential. Bringing women and other marginalised groups into technology will result in more creative solutions and have greater potential for innovations that meet women’s needs and promote gender equality. Their lack of inclusion, by contrast, comes with massive costs.
With this year’s IWD campaign theme being: #EmbraceEquity, provision is made for a unified direction to guide and galvanise continuous collective action; and runs all year long. A gender-balanced world using innovation and technology as advancements in digital technology offer immense opportunities to address development and humanitarian challenges and to achieve the 2030 Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Indeed, digital technology is opening new doors for the global empowerment of women, girls and other marginalised groups. From gender-responsive digital learning to tech-facilitated sexual and reproductive healthcare, the digital age represents an unprecedented opportunity to eliminate all forms of disparity and inequality.
Thus, bridging the digital divide between males and female will balance for better in technology and position for gender-balance in employment, which will ultimately improve economic opportunities for Nigerian females in the fourth industrial revolution, because the job of the future will be driven by technology and innovation.
Again, bridging the gender technology gap will contribute to achieving gender equality and empowerment for women and girls; achieving gender balance in employment and increasing the chances of women in the fourth industrial revolution; debunking the myth and other gender stereotypes that girls dislike technology or boys are better in technology; because technology has nothing to do with sex; promote females’ involvement in the field of technology for inclusive growth and gender-balance in employment; investing in females’ acquisition of technical skill is a form of social protection and a holistic approach to so many economic and socio-cultural challenges women and girls face; media contents on successful female in STEM will serve as role models to challenge females to pursue technology-related disciplines; and turn the searchlights of parents, teachers, gender advocates and the Nigerian state to addressing the imbalance in females studying STEM-related courses.
Also, a gender-responsive approach to innovation, technology and digital education can also increase the awareness of women and girls regarding their rights and civic engagement, particularly in the areas of social protection, participation in decision making, and access to public services and sustainable infrastructure.
Achieving these requires addressing structural issues such as unfair social norms and attitudes as well as developing progressive legal frameworks that bridge the technology gap between women and men. These shall provide direction in the use of technology for addressing poverty, unemployment and gender empowerment; and using media advocacy will draw the attention of duty bearers to the opportunities in the use of technology for addressing poverty, unemployment and gender empowerment.
Now that IWD celebration is in the ‘air’, Nigeria can latch on the theme and address the imbalance in females having job/market opportunities; and as entrepreneurs in technology-related fields; address barriers to economic power; cultivate entrepreneurship; and help females develop skills for financial independence.
Beyond the sloganeering of #EmbraceEquity, the country has to be deliberate about innovation and technology for gender equality. Increasingly, nations will not be judged by their military or economic strength, nor the splendour of the capital cities and public buildings, but by the well-being of their peoples: their health, nutrition and education; their ability to participate in decision-making that affect their lives; the provisions made for those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged; and the protection that is afforded to the growing minds and bodies of children, especially women and girls.
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