By Luminous Jannamike, Abuja

THE Country Director of Christian Aid (UK) Nigeria, Temitope Fashola, on Wednesday, called on the federal government to revise the nine-year basic school education curriculum to incorporate digital technology for girls as one of the subjects.

He made the call during a press conference by five faith-based groups to mark this year’s International Women’s Day in Abuja, with the theme: ‘DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality.’

The organisations, under the aegis of Act Alliance Coalition, include Christian Aid (UK) Nigeria, Christian Council of Nigeria, Norwegian Church Aid, World Renew, and Mission 21,

Fashola said it was imperative for the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council to undertake the revision as one of the necessary steps towards bringing digital technology for gender equality into the limelight.

He argued that the curriculum should be made more practical to meet the country’s need in terms of inclusion in the technology ecosystem.

He expressed concern that the 2022 World Economic Forum Report revealed that more than one-third of the technology companies in Nigeria have no female employees.

Consequently, Fashola advocated a sensitisation of female students to the subject of digital technology from the grassroots, saying Innovation cannot be complete without diversity.

He also said that as a society, stakeholders need to accept that women and girls often use technology differently compared to hoys and men.

This, according to him, implies that there are differing gender needs in the use of technology.

He said, “Without the contribution of women, many opportunities and challenges will be missed. This brings upon us the realisation that women and girls cannot just be users and consumers of technology, rather, we must recognise them as potential developers and creators too.

“Hence, we must do away with the social stereotypes that discourage girls from studying and pursuing careers in Digital Innovation and Technology.

“When we empower them to create digital technology, we believe that better tech solutions will be created as the developers fully represent the diversity of the society.

“It is on this basis that Christian Aid (UK) Nigeria and Act Alliance call for the prioritisation of Digital Education for schoolgirls in Nigeria starting with its active integration into school curriculum, and the promotion of gender-responsive digital teaching through investment in teacher training on gender-responsive digital pedagogy towards supporting STEM education and digital skills development for girls.

“This way, we can be certain that in the coming years, Nigerian girls will be adequately equipped to compete for opportunities the digital technology sector.

“According to the 2022 World Economic Forum Report, the Digital Innovation and Technology sector contributed 18.44% to Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) in the second quarter of 2022 with a projection of more future leaps.

“However, only 30% of 93 surveyed technology companies are owned by women, and more than one-third of these companies have no female employees.

“This glaringly indicates that the rapid growth of the digital innovation sector in Nigeria is largely dominated by men.

“This disparity can be attributed to limited digital technology skills fuelled by poverty, cultural bias towards the girl-child education, and lack of female- venture funding and mentorship.

“If this trend continues, Nigeria will lose out on the benefits of having an inclusive technology ecosystem, and lag in the achievement of gender equality for all by 2023; Sustainable Development Goal 5.”