DigiGirls, an initiative by CyberSafe Foundation, funded through the UK Government's Digital Access Programme, recently trained more than 4.000 women with basic digital intermediary skills.
The program also indirectly benefited over 10.000 additional women through the training program. -The Coach.
These employable digital skills have driven positive livelihood outcomes for beneficiaries, improved their employment prospects, and empowered them for digital entrepreneurship in today's digital economy.
The program DigiGirls aims to lessen the digital gender imbalance against women in Niga © ria, empowering more women and girls with employable digital skills through intensive training, mentoring, internships and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Learning paths for the program include digital marketing, UI/UX, graphic design, e-commerce, and data analysis.
BUT: Digital incubator launches service to connect African women with technology
Speaking at the virtual graduation event for DigiGirls 2.0 grantees held on 30 August 2022, Alessandra Lustrati, Head of Digital Development and Global Leadership for the Digital Access Program at the Office of Foreign Affairs, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) of UK Government congratulated the trainees on their achievements.
"Building digital capacity at the local level and testing digital skills development models that work well with specific target groups – as in the DigiGirls approach – is central to FCDO's global effort to support inclusive, responsible and sustainable digital transformation from partner countries such as Nigeria“, said Alessandra Lustrati.
In her speech, the Head of Digital Development further highlighted the enormous potential of Nigeria's digital economy, noting that the ICT sector was the fastest growing sector in Nigeria's economy in 2020 and 2021, and is estimated to contribute 16,2, 2022% of Nigeria's GDP in the first quarter of XNUMX.
"The digital economy can thrive much more and generate opportunities and skilled employment only if we make an effort to close the digital gender gap, which in Nigeria is currently estimated at around 25%. The DigiGirls project with our partner CyberSafe Foundation, as part of the UK's wider digital access program is a great example of how we can help close this gender gap and drive digital inclusion“, He added.
Cybersafe Foundation Founder and Executive Director Confidence Staveley gave a special thank you to the UK government for their continued support in making the program a success and improving the lives of beneficiaries.
"Thanks to the British government through the FCDO, the DigiGirls program has since inception directly trained over 6.000 women with digital skills from both cohorts carried out. She went on to encourage the latest graduates to use their new skills and learnings: “You are the value, don't stop adding value“, stressed Confidence Staveley.
