In line with its mission to create an enabling environment where Nigerians develop, adopt and derive value from digital technology, the Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, affirmed that the Agency has initiated series of programs that support women and youth empowerments towards digital economy.
This declaration was made, on behalf of the DG, by Dr Aristotle Onumo, Deputy Director, Corporate Planning and Strategy, at the launching of Women and Youth Export Facility (WAYEF) organized by the Nigerian Export–Import Bank, NEXIM, with the theme: ‘Unlocking Export Market Opportunities for Women and Youth’.
Speaking at the event, the Honourable Minister for Women Affairs, Dame Paulen Talen, confirmed that the ministry would continue to work with NEXIM by challenging all the factors confronting women empowerment.
The launching of WAYEF as a credit line in promoting the SMEs and particularly the women and young entrepreneurs with interest in exporting local and indigenous content across the world also aligns with NITDA’s programme of capacity building.
In recent past, NITDA has conducted trainings for women in ICT, Digital Capacity Development Programme for Artisans to promote digital economy (for the youth) and other skill empowering programmes to drive the digital economy.
These programmes have taken place in different locations within the country. Women were trained in the use of ICT in Ekiti, Gombe, Jigawa and Nasarawa states while youths were trained in Delta, Imo, Osun, Kogi and Niger States respectively.
Recently the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics was commissioned to cater for the trainings of individuals and SMEs in different ICT programmes within FCT.
In commemoration of the celebration of the International Women day the DG NITDA, speaking from the digital perspective, subtly mentioned that the first programmer of the world is a woman, named Ada Lovelace, an inspiration for young women in IT sector.
While launching the product, Hon. Stella Okotete, Executive Director Business Development of NEXIM, highlighted the features of the WAYEF. She stated that this credit line is available to all Nigerians who are willing to export Nigerian local products across the world.
She also asserted that beyond the facility, they also provide advisory services issue, export insurance, etc. “With the adequate documentation you will get the facility within 30 days and the interest rate has been dropped from 9% to 5% for those who would access the line before February 2022 she said.
