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CITAD Urges Nigerian Government to Enhance Gender Inclusivity in Digital Economy Plan

Environmental Sustainability

The Business Honor | CITAD Urges Gender Inclusivity

Business Honor
18 December, 2025

Advocate calls for integration of gender equity and environmental sustainability in Nigeria's Digital Economy Strategic Plan.

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), through Fatima Babakura, Project Lead of CITAD's Gender and Environmental Centre for Digital Economy, called on the Nigerian Federal Government to take a second look at Nigeria’s 2023 Digital Economy Strategic Plan. Babakura noted that there are gaps with respect to gender inclusivity and environmental sustainability with the strategy as it is presently defined. Fatima said during a press conference that while the Digital Economy Strategic Plan places emphasis on the expansion of technology and efficiency, it fails to consider the social and environmental implications of the digital economy. “Digital policies are not neutral. If we do not take into account issues of justice and equity, we will continue to have the same social and economic disparities,” she said.

She highlighted that there is reference made within this strategy to women and girls and it lacks clear objectives, timelines or accountability measures to ensure barriers to access are removed for them. Additionally, issues related to less access by women and girls to digital skills, exclusion from emerging technology sectors, and limited opportunities for the support of women-owned digital startups and enterprises are still largely unaddressed. According to Babakura, "The present Strategy fails to Address E-waste management systems, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and adoption of Renewable and Low Carbon Energy. As a result, vulnerable communities are being subjected to Environmental harm."

Babakura has urged the Federal Ministry for Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, along with the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Women's Affairs, to incorporate Gender Equality and Environmental Sustainability into every element of the Digital Economy Policy. "The development of Public Policy must be done in an Inter-disciplinary fashion, where Technology, Society, and Environment all play an Inter-connected role together."