By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

In a bid to bridge the digital divide and empower women and girls with relevant technology skills, Senator Sunday Marshall Katung, representing Kaduna South Senatorial District, has facilitated a two-week, free Information and Communication Technology (ICT) training programme for women and girls across Southern Kaduna.

The training, which commenced on Monday at the Fantswam Foundation in Kafanchan, is being organised in partnership with the Niger Delta Initiative and Women Our Voice Our Vote (WOVOV). It targets women and girls aged 18 years and above within the senatorial district.

The initiative underscores Senator Katung’s commitment to inclusive development, women empowerment and youth capacity building through access to digital skills required to thrive in today’s technology-driven world.

Speaking at the commencement of the programme, the Coordinator of the Southern Kaduna Tech Professionals Network, Engr. Charles Bala Dyaji, described the training as a strategic intervention championed by the senator to ensure that women and girls in the region are not left behind in the digital age.

According to him, the programme is designed to train no fewer than 1,000 women and girls across Southern Kaduna, with plans already underway to expand the training to additional locations within the district in order to address distance and accessibility challenges.

“This training is deliberate and impact-driven. With the support of Senator Sunday Marshall Katung and our partners, our goal is to ensure digital inclusion for women and girls in Southern Kaduna. We intend to train at least 1,000 beneficiaries, and due to distance considerations, we are planning to extend this programme to other locations across the region,” Dyaji said.

He explained that the training focuses on hands-on computer literacy and practical ICT skills, equipping participants with knowledge they can immediately apply to education, entrepreneurship and professional advancement.

Beneficiaries of the programme, including Mrs. Zanswat Daniel, Halima Isa Abbas and Mrs. Linda Jerry Bako, expressed appreciation to Senator Katung and the partnering organisations for initiating what they described as a timely and empowering intervention.

They pledged to fully utilise the opportunity by committing themselves to the training and applying the skills acquired to improve their livelihoods and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

The beneficiaries also commended the quality of facilitation, the practical teaching approach adopted by the trainers, and the conducive learning environment provided by the Fantswam Foundation, which they said enhanced understanding and active participation.

The ICT training programme forms part of Senator Katung’s broader efforts to promote digital inclusion, empower women and girls, and drive sustainable development across Southern Kaduna. The programme is expected to run for two weeks, with expansion plans underway to reach more communities within the senatorial district.