The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) on Friday, December 12, 2025, hosted the second edition of the Women in Digital Empowerment Network (WIDEN) Workshop at its newly inaugurated conference hall in Abuja, as key stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to bridging Nigeria’s digital gender divide . The workshop brought together government officials, university administrators, development partners, researchers, and female technology trainees to disseminate project outputs and advance discussions on inclusive digital empowerment for women across Nigeria. Declaring the workshop open, the Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Olufemi A. Peters, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Technology, Innovation and Research), Prof. Christine I. Ofulue, described WIDEN as a transformative initiative anchored on inclusion, accessible learning, and gender-responsive digital empowerment. He expressed appreciation to the British Council for funding the project and commended the collaboration among NOUN, Brunel University London, and Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK). According to him, insights generated from the project would inform strategic planning and policy development aimed at expanding digital opportunities for Nigerian women. In her remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of NSUK, Prof. Sa’adatu Hassan Liman, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nghargbu K’tso, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to promoting digital innovation and supporting women’s participation in technology-driven sectors. The Federal Ministry of Education was represented by Amina Yazid Ibrahim, who conveyed the goodwill of the Director of University Education, Mrs. Rakiya Gambo Ilyasu. She lauded the collaborative spirit of the workshop and urged stakeholders to sustain the momentum generated, noting that the discussions, testimonies, and shared learning contribute significantly to building a more inclusive digital ecosystem for women in Nigeria. Representing the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Yusuf Ribadu, the Chief Officer of the Directorate of Open Distance and e-Learning, Dr. Angela Irene, commended the institutions involved in the WIDEN project. She stated that the initiative aligns with the Commission’s reforms to strengthen digital pedagogy, promote inclusivity, and integrate ICT into university administration, teaching, and research, while providing valuable comparative insights to guide regulatory interventions within the Nigerian University System. A major highlight of the workshop was the presentation of findings from the Gender Analysis and Needs Assessment (GANA), led by Prof. Ganiyat Adesina-Uthman, Principal Investigator (Nigeria), Dr. David Botchie, Principal Investigator (United Kingdom) from Brunel University London and Prof. Rasheedah Funke Olanrewaju, from Nasarawa State University, Keffi, who serves as Co-Investigator. The assessment surveyed over 550 young women across Nigeria and revealed significant gaps in digital skills acquisition. Most respondents identified as beginners, while the majority had never received formal technology training. Financial constraints, time limitations, poor internet access, and the lack of local training facilities were identified as key barriers. Despite these challenges, interest in technology careers remained strong, with respondents expressing readiness to explore opportunities in data science, software development, digital marketing, and tech entrepreneurship. The study also showed a high willingness to engage in remote work and highlighted specific challenges faced by women with disabilities in digital learning and work environments. Providing clarification on project funding and implementation, Prof. Adesina-Uthman disclosed that the British Council awarded a £24,220 grant to Brunel University London as the contracting institution, which subsequently disbursed funds for project activities in Nigeria. She noted that over £10,110 had been expended in the first phase, with additional funds supporting dissemination activities. According to her, more than 200 women have enrolled in the programme, with nearly 80 actively participating, exceeding the initial target of 50 trainees. She added that participants have already developed innovative digital solutions, including applications for school monitoring, memo tracking, postgraduate project management, and telemedicine. The programme, which runs from March 2025 to April 2026, remains free for participants while British Council funding lasts, with future sustainability supported by NOUN’s investments in digital infrastructure such as its Learning Management System (LMS). Closing the workshop, Prof. Sami Ayodele, a member of the WIDEN team, thanked partners, facilitators, institutions, and participants, describing the event as inspiring and impactful. He noted that the ideas, innovations, and digital prototypes showcased reflect a shared commitment to advancing digital inclusion for women and girls and called for sustained collaboration to achieve even greater impact as the project progresses.
