Dr Ahmed Tambuwal (representative of the DG NITDA) delivering his speech, at IgniteHer Bootcamp for Women Entrepreneurs.
The present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, in a powerful demonstration of its commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has launched the second cohort of the IgniteHer Bootcamp for Women Entrepreneurs, a strategic initiative aimed at accelerating gender inclusion and economic empowerment through digital innovation.
Both physically and virtually, for rigorous training in digital skills, innovation management, business development, and investor readiness. The bootcamp, themed “Empowering Women Entrepreneurs for Growth and Innovation”, was launched in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and brought together selected women entrepreneurs from across Nigeria.
Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, NITDA DG, declared the bootcamp open, reaffirmed the Agency’s role in aligning Nigeria’s digital development with the national priorities of reforming the economy for sustained inclusive growth and accelerating economic diversification through industrialization and digitization.
We want to actualize President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda “Through IgniteHer, by expanding women’s access to technology and economic opportunity,” he stated.
Acting Director of the Digital Literacy and Capacity Building department, Dr. Ahmed Tambuwal, who represented the DG, noted the inclusive innovation is a cornerstone of NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0: 2024–2027), which supports national aspirations for inclusive growth, poverty eradication, and youth empowerment. “We are not merely imparting skills; we are creating self-reliant entrepreneurs, change-makers, and leaders”.
Inuwa, averred that the programme complements broader government efforts to bridge gender gaps, enhance productivity, and reduce unemployment, especially among young women. Inuwa disclosed that the IgniteHer Bootcamp is also a key component of the National Gender Digital Inclusion Strategy (NGDIS), through which NITDA is working to empower 12.7 million Nigerian women with digital literacy skills by 2027.
The DG emphasized closing the digital gender gap in Nigeria could unlock an estimated $13 billion in GDP growth over the next decade, cited a report by the World Wide Web Foundation. “This training is a step towards harnessing this economic potential and ensuring that women play an integral role in shaping the digital landscape of Nigeria,” he noted.
While highlighting NITDA’s leadership in strategic partnerships, the DG commended JICA and the Government of Japan for their ongoing collaboration in supporting digital empowerment through programmes like IgniteHer and the iHatch Incubation Programme, which provides startup support, mentorship, and innovation development to early-stage entrepreneurs. He called on participants selected from over 12,000 applicants to seize the moment and shape the future of Nigerian entrepreneurship.
“At NITDA, we believe that inclusive innovation is not just an ideal but a critical strategy that ensures the growth of a stronger economy, the development of smarter solutions, and the existence of more resilient communities. Through IgniteHer, we are dismantling barriers and replacing them with pathways to opportunity,” he concluded.
The Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Matsunaga Kazuyoshi, during his speech, reaffirmed Japan’s long-standing commitment to innovation and gender inclusion in Nigeria. He announced that Japan, through JICA, is currently supporting two grant projects worth $30.9 million, focused on improving Nigeria’s startup ecosystem, strengthening the investment climate, and building an inclusive innovation hub.
The Ambassador also referenced the upcoming Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), themed “Co-create Innovative Solutions with Africa”, as further testament to Japan’s dedication to deepening Africa-Japan cooperation on digital transformation and entrepreneurship.
Lead Facilitator of IgniteHer, Hajiya Hafsat Salabi-Dange, described the programme as a catalyst for social and economic transformation. Encouraging the participants to remain curious, intentional, and bold, she said, “What you will gain here goes beyond business; it is a tool for community upliftment, national growth, and generational impact. ”While praising NITDA’s visionary approach to development, she stated that the programme is a movement that is bridging the digital gender divide and fostering economic independence.
