By Ezra Ukanwa, Abuja

AS Nigeria joins the world to celebrate the International Women’s Day, the Centre for Public Policy and Research, CPPR, has called on the Federal Government, FG, to prioritize promotion of digital innovation for women in businesses and the environment.

In a statement, signed by the chairman, CPPR, Sam Amadi, stated that doing so would help promote women economic empowerment across the country, adding that such skills for women and girls will drive sustainable economic development and inclusive well being for all.

Amadi, while highlighting the United Nation, UN, Women’s 2022 Gender Snapshot, he said women’s exclusion from the digital world has caused a loss of $1 trillion for the economies of developing countries in the last decade-a loss that will increase by 50 percent by 2025 if nothing is done in this regard.

The statement reads in part: “Besides economic benefits, enhancing women’s safe and equal access to digital technologies offers immense opportunities to address development and humanitarian challenges and spark innovative and creative solutions that meet women’s needs and promote their empowerment.

“Women innovators have continued to grow, particularly in technologically advanced countries; however, on a global scale, only 15% of innovators are women.

“Women are the primary caregivers in Africa, with 75% of these women living in rural communities. The majority of these women are responsible for their families’ energy, food, shelter, and clothing.

“As climatic conditions continue to change, women are developing local strategies to mitigate and adapt to these changes. With an increase in local climate mitigation and adaptation strategies, there is an increase in female participation in climate action in Nigeria.”

Among other things, Amadi called for: “A need to embrace and promote equity in digital innovation action, as well as increase women’s participation in technology and closing the digital gaps in Africa and Nigeria.

“For this increased participation to occur, there is a need to develop gender sensitive technology curriculum for girls at all levels of education in Africa and Nigeria, because it will help young girls develop an interest in innovations.

“The Centre calls for digital innovation in businesses for women to promote women economic empowerment and transform their lives. The CPPR urges the government to ensure that the digital space is safer for women and girls. It is important that the government invests greatly in ICT skills for women and be placed in ICT decision making in the country.

“Online content should be developed to solve gender challenges specifically for women and girls that will promote human rights of women and girls in Nigeria”, he added.