SDN empowers 330 Niger Delta women with digital skills

Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN) has empowered 330 women in the Niger Delta region with digital skills to reduce gender gaps in the sector.

The beneficiaries were trained in digital marketing, content creation, data analysis, web design, computer appreciation, graphics and product design, cyber security, among others.

The project, ‘Reducing Digital Gender Gaps in the Niger Delta,’ is funded by the European Union.

The State Manager, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Olalekan Rashidat, during the graduation ceremony, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, said that the programme was designed to empower more women with digital skills in today’s evolving economy.

Rashidat tasked the graduands to strive for excellence with their acquired skills.

The SMEDAN State Chairman advocated support through internship opportunities and tools for the graduands that will assist their tech journey.

Rivers State Commissioner for Youths Development, Chisom Gbali, charged the graduands to use the knowledge acquired to create multiple streams of income for themselves.

He also stated that the state government was currently building a resource centre that will provide skills and employment for youths in the state.

He said: “You are an asset; do not let yourself be relegated. What you need to do now to carve a niche for yourself and have an edge over your contemporaries is creative imagination.

Speaking also, the Assistant Programme Manager, SDN, and the Project Lead, Ifeoma Ndekwu, informed that the participants who fall between the age bracket of 18 and 40 years are individual women and women who own businesses that have interest to attend and complete the training.