Kenny Folarin, Abuja
As Nigeria joins the world to celebrate the 2023 International Women’s Day, the Chief Executive Officer, High Tech Centre for Nigerian Women and Youths, Dr. Wunmi Hassan has posited that Nigerian women need to be knowledgeable in cyber security and data privacy protection.
Dr. Wunmi who spoke exclusively with leading reporters stated that women need to open up to cyber security learning, securing online protection for themselves and their children, especially the younger ones (the girls).
According to her, women need to be exposed to what need to be protected and be conscious of their security, what they should post online, and who they share their data with considering lots of scams and vulnerabilities especially among the female gender.
‘So we need to wise up and be trained, understand lot of cyber security issues and know what to do at different times. Many women doing business online need to learn this to be able to protect themselves, the business and their customers”.
“We cannot stop learning we need to encourage women to learn and keep learning so that as we look at the theme for this year, which is calling on every woman to be digital literate, encourages women to be tech savvy and understand what need to be done by oneself not outsourcing always”.
Furthermore, Dr. Wunmi explained that computing, coding and programming are very essential programs for women which enable them develop tech solutions.
She added that technology is supposed to be a course or field that more women should be involved in because it gives an enabling environment to work at their pace virtually while still be able to manage the family and be a very joyful, fulfilled and successful woman
Dr. Wunmi however implore the government to make data more affordable and available and make policies that will be citizens friendly while strengthening connectivity even to the rural population.
‘We solicit that government make data more affordable and cheaper than what it is so that more people can engage and I think that they are not doing badly as it were but the policies needs to be more entrenched so that those in the rural areas where connectivity might be a challenge will also be connected”.
She advised women irrespective of class or status to embrace technology, learn tech skills and make more money even online.
‘And for many women that cannot go to school or work, technology is the only thing that can help better your life, you can use it anywhere with the mobile device and work virtually and make money”.
“We call on every woman to know that they can learn a skill be better anywhere they can benefit from technology and earn more to make money virtually”.