In October, the Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC) proudly participated in the Women Leadership in the Public ICT Sector (WLICT) workshop in Abuja, organized by Expertise France. Represented by our Partnership Manager, Mrs. Blessed Hamed-Musa, W.TEC joined key industry leaders and advocates to tackle one of the most pressing issues in today’s digital landscape: Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV).
The Growing Urgency of Digital Safety As technology becomes increasingly central to our daily lives, fostering safer, more inclusive digital spaces for women and girls is no longer optional—it is an urgent necessity. The rapid expansion of the digital economy has unfortunately been accompanied by a rise in online harassment.
Consider the current landscape:
- According to UN Women, nearly 38% of women globally have personally experienced online violence.
- Broader global studies indicate that up to 85% of women have witnessed digital violence targeted at other women, ranging from cyberbullying and doxxing to image-based abuse.
- In Nigeria, the fear of online harassment and lack of digital safety frameworks remain primary barriers keeping women offline, directly widening the gender digital divide.
Collaborative Action at the WLICT Workshop Addressing a challenge of this scale requires a unified approach. The WLICT workshop provided a critical platform for high-level stakeholder engagement and collaborative brainstorming. A key outcome of the session was the validation of a comprehensive work plan designed to strengthen localized, actionable interventions against TFGBV in Nigeria.
W.TEC’s Commitment to Comprehensive Digital Inclusion At W.TEC, we recognize that building a truly inclusive digital ecosystem goes far beyond merely providing access to hardware and coding skills. True empowerment requires intentional, sustained efforts to dismantle the barriers, mitigate the risks, and address the systemic inequalities that threaten women’s safety and limit their participation in the digital world.
When digital spaces are unsafe, women self-censor, withdraw from online leadership, and miss out on vital economic and educational opportunities.
We are energized by the outcomes of the WLICT workshop and look forward to our continued collaboration with Expertise France and other dedicated stakeholders. By prioritizing both access and safety, we will continue working toward a secure, equitable, and empowering digital future for all.