Women leaders in technology, government and industry have called for deliberate action to increase female participation in Nigeria’s digital transformation, stressing that innovation, leadership and inclusion are critical to the country’s economic future.

The call was made during a two-day conference organised by the Nigerian Women in Information Technology in Abuja, where stakeholders from the public and private sectors gathered to discuss strategies for expanding opportunities for women in the technology ecosystem.

The conference, themed “Next-Gen Women: Driving the Digital Economy Through Leadership, Innovation and Inclusion,” attracted executives from MTN Nigeria, Galaxy Backbone, the Nigeria Computer Society and several federal agencies.

Speaking at the event, NIWIIT President, Dr. Olukemi Sade Ayodele, said the association remains committed to equipping women with the skills, mentorship and opportunities needed to assume leadership positions in technology and influence policy decisions.

President of the Nigeria Computer Society, Professor Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu, described women as indispensable contributors to technological advancement, commending initiatives such as Tech Queens and RoboGirls with Allied Boys for nurturing future innovators.

Delivering the keynote address, Chief Information Officer of MTN Nigeria, Bukola Ajayi, argued that women’s inclusion in the digital economy is an economic necessity rather than a social obligation.

She urged stakeholders to move beyond simply providing access to opportunities and instead empower women with decision-making authority and the tools needed to shape the future of digital infrastructure.

“We don’t just join the future of building this digital infrastructure; we need to design it,” she said.

In a second keynote address, Ada Chukwumere, representing the Director-General of the National Centre for Women Development, Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, challenged women to take active roles as innovators and leaders in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

She noted that capacity development, problem-solving skills and digital responsibility would be essential for women seeking to thrive in the technology-driven economy.

The conference also featured goodwill messages from senior technology professionals, regulators and government officials, including representatives of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria.

A panel discussion involving experts from the telecom, regulatory and technology sectors examined practical approaches to strengthening inclusion and expanding opportunities for women across the digital economy.

Participants also attended workshops, paper presentations and executive mentoring sessions designed to foster professional growth and knowledge sharing.

As part of efforts to encourage innovation among young Nigerians, schools that participated in the RoboGirls robotics competition received awards and robotic kits to support continued learning and technological development.

The conference concluded with the induction of new members, the association’s Annual General Meeting and elections into its National Executive Council.

This version reads more like a professional newspaper report, with a stronger national-development angle rather than a conference-event narrative.