CITAD calls for inclusive, gender-responsive, green digital transformation in Nigeria
Kola Oyelere Kano
The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has urged policymakers, private sector actors and development partners to adopt a more inclusive, gender-responsive and environmentally sustainable approach to Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
Speaking at a press briefing, the Project Lead Officer, Fatima Babakura, said the organization is advancing advocacy under its Greening and Feminist Centering of the National Digital Transformation Agenda Project, implemented with the support of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC).
Babakura said while Nigeria’s digital transformation is often described in terms of infrastructure growth, innovation and technology adoption, such indicators do not fully reflect how digital opportunities and resources are distributed across society.
According to her, deeper analysis shows that political and economic decisions shape who benefits from digital progress and who remains excluded, particularly among rural communities, women, persons with disabilities, and people living in conflict-affected areas.
She identified key barriers to digital inclusion as high costs of devices and connectivity, affordability challenges, language limitations, safety concerns, and weak participation in policy processes.
“Digital transformation must be socially inclusive, environmentally friendly, and grounded in justice,” she said, noting that women’s exclusion from the digital economy is structurally driven by limited access to tools, high data costs, online harassment, cultural restrictions and policies that fail to reflect lived realities.
Babakura stressed that digital inclusion should go beyond connectivity to include safe online environments, skills development, mentorship and culturally responsive strategies that empower women to participate fully.
The briefing also highlighted disparities in funding and investment patterns within the digital economy, with women-led and community-based initiatives often lacking access to capital and institutional support, while larger and well-resourced actors dominate innovation spaces.
She added that persons with disabilities continue to face exclusion due to inaccessible infrastructure, limited assistive technologies and poor representation in governance and planning.
CITAD further warned that digital expansion carries environmental consequences, including electronic waste and resource exploitation, which often affect vulnerable communities with limited regulatory protection.
The group called for climate and environmental justice to be integrated into digital policy frameworks.
Babakura emphasized the role of civil society organizations, media, advocacy networks and community technology hubs in pushing for reforms and ensuring accountability in digital governance.
As part of its call to action, CITAD urged policymakers and regulators to review digital policies to embed equity, gender justice, disability inclusion and environmental sustainability.
It also called on development partners and private sector organizations to close funding gaps by supporting women-led, disability-inclusive and community-driven digital initiatives.
The organization appealed to the media to continue highlighting issues of access, power and exclusion in Nigeria’s digital transformation process.
CITAD reaffirmed its commitment to promoting evidence-based advocacy and stakeholder engagement to ensure that Nigeria’s digital future benefits all segments of society.