The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has launched the second cohort of the IgniteHer Bootcamp for Women Entrepreneurs, a strategic initiative aimed at accelerating gender inclusion and economic empowerment through digital innovation. This is a powerful demonstration of NITDA’s commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.
Launched in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the bootcamp, with the theme “Empowering Women Entrepreneurs for Growth and Innovation,” brought together a select group of female entrepreneurs from all over Nigeria, both virtually and in person, for intense instruction in digital skills, innovation management, business development, and investor readiness.
The bootcamp was opened by NITDA Director General Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, who also reaffirmed the Agency’s responsibility to coordinate Nigeria’s digital development with the country’s priorities of industrialization and digitization to accelerate economic diversification and reform the economy for long-term inclusive growth.
“By increasing women’s access to technology and economic opportunities, we are realizing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda through IgniteHer,” he said.
The DG stated that inclusive innovation is a key component of NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0: 2024–2027), which supports national aspirations for inclusive growth, poverty eradication, and youth empowerment. The DG was represented by Dr. Ahmed Tambuwal, the agency’s Acting Director of the Digital Literacy and Capacity Building department.
“We are not just teaching skills; we are developing independent business owners, innovators, and leaders,” he continued.
According to Inuwa, NITDA is aiming to equip 12.7 million Nigerian women with digital literacy skills by 2027, and the IgniteHer Bootcamp is a crucial part of the National Gender Digital Inclusion Strategy (NGDIS). He claimed that the program supports larger government initiatives to close the gender gap, increase productivity, and lower unemployment, particularly for young women.
The DG emphasized that reducing Nigeria’s digital gender gap could unlock an estimated $13 billion in GDP growth over the next ten years, citing a report from the World Wide Web Foundation.
He said, “This training is a step towards harnessing this economic potential and ensuring that women play an integral role in shaping in Nigeria’s digital landscape.”
As a result, he urged those chosen from among more than 12,000 applications to take advantage of the opportunity and influence Nigerian entrepreneurship going forward.
The DG praised JICA and the Government of Japan for their continued cooperation in promoting digital empowerment through initiatives like IgniteHer and the iHatch Incubation Programme, which offers early-stage entrepreneurs startup support, mentorship, and innovation development, while also emphasising NITDA’s leadership in strategic partnerships.
“At NITDA, we think that inclusive innovation is not just a good idea, but a vital tactic that guarantees the creation of more intelligent solutions, a stronger economy, and more resilient communities. We are breaking down barriers with IgniteHer and creating avenues for opportunity in their place,” he said.
In his speech, Matsunaga Kazuyoshi, the Japanese ambassador to Nigeria, reiterated Japan’s longstanding support for gender inclusion and innovation in Nigeria. He declared that two grant projects totaling $30.9 million are presently being supported by Japan through JICA with the goals of enhancing Nigeria’s startup ecosystem, bolstering the investment climate, and creating an inclusive innovation hub.
The Ambassador also cited Japan’s commitment to strengthening Africa-Japan collaboration on digital transformation and entrepreneurship as evidence of the upcoming Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), which has as its theme “Co-create Innovative Solutions with Africa.”
IgniteHer’s lead facilitator, Hajiya Hafsat Salabi-Dange, characterized the program as a force for social and economic change. She praised NITDA’s innovative approach to development and said the program is a movement that is promoting economic independence and closing the gender gap in the digital age.
“What you will gain here goes beyond business; it is a tool for community upliftment, national growth, and generational impact,” she said, urging the participants to continue being bold, inquisitive, and purposeful.
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