Ogun deputy gov, others canvass gender inclusion in tech

The Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Noimot Salako-Oyedele; CEO of Microsoft Nigeria and Ghana, Olatomiwa Williams; Senior Special Assistant on Digital/New Media to President Bola Tinubu, O’tega Ogra, among other personalities, have advocated gender inclusion in technology development.

They made this call at the 24th edition of NECCI PR Roundtable held in Lagos, with the theme, ‘Women in technology, breaking barriers’.

Ogra identified gaps when he said: “There is a major gap in the tech sector where you have only about 13 per cent of women holding leadership positions. This is unacceptable and demands our immediate attention. The solution lies in structures and processes to dismantle barriers. We must also foster collaboration and young female tech professionals must have access to mentors. Women in tech are not mere participants; they are enablers and powerful catalysts for the growth of the country.”

To Oyedele, tech shapes every part of human life, but women are underrepresented. “We must dismantle barriers. It is not a task for women alone, but a shared mission. I am calling on all of us to champion inclusion and equality. When we talk about breaking barriers, we are talking about harnessing untapped resources. The rapid rise of fintech, agritech, edutech and healthtech in recent years underscores digital roles in bridging gaps across society. Imagine what it will mean for the continent if we can double the capacity of the sector by bringing in more women.”

Williams identified challenges such as poverty and cultural biases towards girl child education. To her, cultural norms need to change, stressing that there was a need to reorientate ourselves to make women feel they are worthy.

“We also need to empower female founders with the right opportunities. Tech industry is male-dominated, so there is a need to support women,” she stressed.

Convener NECCI PR Roundtable Nkechi Ali-Balogun said the role of women in tech cannot be over-emphasised. She also urged women to go into Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM).