The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has officially launched a specialized capacity-building program titled “Cyber for Women,” aimed at aggressively closing the gender gap in Nigeria’s digital security workforce.
The launch, which took place in Abuja on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, was organized in collaboration with Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS). The initiative is a direct response to global statistics showing that women currently make up less than 25% of the cybersecurity workforce.
Strategic Objectives of “Cyber for Women”
The program is designed to move beyond basic digital literacy and position Nigerian women as “architects” of the digital revolution:
- Bridging the Talent Gap: Director of Cybersecurity, Mohammed Lawan Ahmed (represented by Ayodele Bakare), noted that while the demand for security professionals is skyrocketing, women remain significantly underrepresented.
- Practical Empowerment: Participants are being equipped with hands-on tools, technical knowledge, and exposure to real-world cyber threat scenarios.
- National Resilience: The initiative is part of the broader Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), which views gender-inclusive cybersecurity as a critical pillar for protecting national infrastructure.
Why It Matters Now
- Global Demand: With cybersecurity needs projected to grow by nearly 40% in the next decade, NITDA is pushing to ensure Nigeria has a gender-diverse talent pool ready for the global market.
- Career Transitioning: The program specifically targets students and early-career professionals looking to pivot from other sectors into tech, offering them mentorship and a clear entry point.
- Inclusive Innovation: Organizers emphasized that diverse perspectives are essential for identifying vulnerabilities and creating robust solutions that men alone might overlook.
