Economic prosperity, tech career know no gender, stakeholders counsel Nigerian women, girls

Stakeholders in the gender, social, and business sectors have counselled young Nigerian women and girls to stop believing that active and successful participation in economic and technological activities is meant only for the male gender, as some people and societies think.

The stakeholders made this statement during the 2025 Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum, held from the 15th to the 17th of this month at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York.

This year’s ECOSOC Youth Forum, aimed at offering opportunities for dialogue on the actualisation of SDGs 3, 5, 8, 14, and 17, was themed ‘Youth at the forefront: Leveraging science and social inclusion for sustainable development’.

In alignment with the ECOSOC theme, the stakeholders advised Nigerian women and girls on economic and technological issues through an online session titled ‘Advancing girls and women economic empowerment for sustainable future’, organised by the Temvert Empowerment Foundation in partnership with the UN Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY).

The session, which attracted participants from across the globe, was moderated by Michelle Kafe, a British lawyer and anti-poverty activist. On the panel were Temitayo Olatunde, founder and Executive Director of the Temvert Empowerment Foundation; Wofai Samuel, Acting Director General of the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce; and Amanda Obidike, Executive Director of STEMi Makers Africa.

Temitayo Olatunde stated that young women and girls are change-makers and must be empowered to break the barriers that arise from social constructs.

“When girls and women are economically empowered, the society and the world will thrive,” he said.

Abdulrasheed Adepitan Adetunji, the Public Relations Officer of the Temvert Empowerment Foundation, noted that the ECOSOC outing and partnership with the UNMGCY was the foundation’s maiden international event.

“For many years, we have advocated educational quality, access, and gender inclusion. This milestone marks a significant step in showcasing our commitment to global discourse that aligns with Sustainable Development Goals, particularly as it borders on education, gender equality and development,” Adetunji added.

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Speaking on the topic, ‘Public-private partnership for women’s economic advancement’, Wofai Samuel lamented that Nigerian women face difficulties in accessing income, finance, and loans from banks and other financial organisations to start or grow their businesses due to their gender.

Despite these challenges, Samuel warned women and girls not to relent in their efforts to improve their circumstances, because, according to her, the economy needs people—regardless of gender—who can build their capacity and make an impact.

She urged women to enhance their skills and capabilities to enable them to compete favourably in life and business, stressing that “People need to stop thinking that they are doing women a favour by giving them money and job opportunities.”

Amanda Obidike titled her speech ‘Increasing women’s participation in STEM and addressing gender gap in the digital world’.

Obidike emphasised that women need the support of men in addressing gender gaps in tech and STEM, adding that this gap can be closed through mentorship, which is currently insufficient in Nigeria.

She explained that a lack of interest in mathematics and certain science subjects—often due to the way they are taught in schools, especially at the grassroots level—also discourages girls from actively pursuing careers in tech and STEM.

In light of this, she urged educators and other stakeholders to provide sustainable programmes that can harness the talents and skills of young women and girls in addressing the gender gap in the digital world.

According to her, these programmes include mentorship, volunteering, incubator initiatives, public-private partnerships, and similar efforts, all of which should be designed for long-term impact.

Obidike further stated that these efforts can be achieved by encouraging peer-to-peer learning, mini STEM clubs, regular volunteering, and dedicated modelling and mentorship, adding, “These efforts do not require so many resources; they only require a sense of community.”

The panel concluded with the recommendation that Nigerian women and girls can achieve their economic goals and technological aspirations, and also compete effectively with men in any endeavour, irrespective of their sex and gender.

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