IWD: AEIG harps on removing digital gender divide

By Stanley Onyekwere

A Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Abiodun Essiet Initiative for Girls (AEIG) has stressed the need to do more to remove the digital gender divide, mainly impacting vulnerable women and girls, especially those in rural and remote areas with low education and socioeconomic status.
AEIG, which made this call in its message to mark this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD), said the role technology has played in the overall development of mankind cannot be overemphasized.
Executive Director AEIG, Mayowa Akpati, said this year’s theme: Digit all: Innovation and technology for gender equality,” highlights the role of innovative technology in promoting gender equality and meeting the health and developmental needs of women and girls.
Akpati, noted that innovations and technology have steered the world to move at an unprecedented pace and will continue to do so more rapidly.
“Women all over the world have benefited in no small measure from reproductive health to menstrual hygiene
“Nevertheless, we must do more to remove the digital gender divide, mainly impacting vulnerable women and girls, especially those in rural and remote areas with low education and socioeconomic status.
“Indeed, this is shaping the future, yet women are still underrepresented in this space with only about 28 percent presence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) according to recent studies.
“Beyond this year’s theme, Equity recognizes that each person has different circumstances and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome.
“As an organisation, we have been at the epicenter of promoting gender equity and social inclusion through promoting the improvement of policies, supervising governments and companies, providing services to women and researchers, strengthening the publicity of female role models and male participation, and expanding cooperation.
“As we celebrate this auspicious occasion, my message to men in positions of influence is to use this initiative as an opportunity to be an ally or advocate for gender equity. Being curious, having some self-awareness about how your actions can include or exclude and building your knowledge is a key process to help you understand the challenges facing women in the workplace”, she stressed.