THE CENTRE for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has identified major gender and environmental justice gaps in Nigeria’s 2023 Digital Economy Strategic Plan, urging the Federal Government to urgently review the policy.
The concerns were raised at a press briefing in Kano on Wednesday by the Project Lead, Greening and Feminist Centering of the National Digital Transformation Agenda, Ms Fatima Babakura, on behalf of the Executive Director of CITAD.
Babakura said the organisation, with support from the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), was implementing a project aimed at identifying gender and climate gaps in Nigeria’s digital policies.
“The project seeks to ensure that Nigeria’s digital transformation process is inclusive, environmentally conscious, and rooted in feminist and climate justice principles,” she said.
According to her, while Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda is often presented as a pathway to economic growth, innovation and improved governance, CITAD’s assessment revealed that the current Digital Economy Strategic Plan prioritises technological expansion and economic efficiency at the expense of social and environmental considerations.
“Digital policies are not neutral. When justice considerations are ignored, they often reproduce and deepen existing inequalities,” Babakura stated.
She noted that the plan does not sufficiently integrate gender considerations across its objectives and implementation framework, adding that women and girls were mentioned only marginally.
“Women and girls are referenced without clear targets, timelines, or accountability mechanisms to address the structural barriers that limit their participation in the digital economy,” she said.
Babakura added that issues such as unequal access to digital skills, exclusion from emerging technology sectors and limited support for women-led digital enterprises remained largely unaddressed.
“If left unchanged, this approach risks widening Nigeria’s digital gender divide and excluding millions of women from the benefits of digital transformation,” she warned.
On environmental concerns, Babakura said the Digital Economy Strategic Plan failed to address climate and environmental justice implications associated with digital infrastructure expansion.
“The expansion of data centres, broadband networks and ICT devices has significant environmental implications, including increased energy demand, carbon emissions and electronic waste,” she said.
She added that the strategy made no provision for environmental impact assessments, e-waste management systems or the adoption of renewable and low-carbon energy solutions.
“This omission exposes vulnerable communities to environmental harm and increases the risk of Nigeria becoming a dumping ground for electronic waste,” Babakura said.
She stressed that the identified gaps contradicted Nigeria’s commitments to sustainable development and climate action.
“A digital economy that ignores environmental sustainability undermines national and global efforts to address climate change. Similarly, a digital transformation agenda that fails to intentionally include women and marginalised groups cannot deliver inclusive or equitable development,” she said.
Babakura called on the Federal Government, particularly the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, to initiate an immediate review of the Digital Economy Strategic Plan.
“This review must deliberately integrate gender justice and environmental sustainability across all pillars of the policy, with measurable targets, adequate funding and enforceable accountability mechanisms,” she said.
She also urged stronger collaboration among the Federal Ministry of Communications, the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to ensure that digital development aligns with climate and gender equality goals.
“We further call on civil society organisations, the media, development partners and the private sector to sustain advocacy for a feminist and green digital future,” Babakura added.
According to her, Nigeria stands at a critical moment in shaping its digital economy.
“The digital economy has the potential to drive inclusive growth and national development, but only if it is intentionally designed to be gender-responsive and environmentally sustainable,” she said.
