In a bold stride towards advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has launched the second cohort of its IgniteHer Bootcamp — a transformative initiative designed to accelerate gender inclusion and economic empowerment through digital innovation.
Themed “Empowering Women Entrepreneurs for Growth and Innovation”, the bootcamp is implemented in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and brings together women entrepreneurs from across Nigeria — both physically and virtually — for intensive training in digital skills, innovation management, business development, and investor readiness.
Declaring the bootcamp open, NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to using technology as a tool for inclusive national development. Represented by the Acting Director of Digital Literacy and Capacity Building, Dr. Ahmed Tambuwal, Inuwa emphasized the alignment of IgniteHer with Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda and broader economic reform efforts.
“Through IgniteHer, we are actualising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by expanding women’s access to technology and economic opportunity,” he said.
He further noted that inclusive innovation remains central to NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0: 2024–2027), which supports national goals of poverty eradication, economic diversification, and youth empowerment.
The DG highlighted that the bootcamp is a flagship component of the National Gender Digital Inclusion Strategy (NGDIS), with the goal of empowering 12.7 million Nigerian women with digital literacy by 2027. He cited a report by the World Wide Web Foundation, which estimates that closing Nigeria’s digital gender gap could unlock $13 billion in GDP growth over the next decade.
“This training is a step towards harnessing that potential and ensuring that women play an integral role in shaping Nigeria’s digital future,” Inuwa stated, urging the selected participants — drawn from a pool of over 12,000 applicants — to maximise the opportunity and become change-makers.
Inuwa also commended the Government of Japan and JICA for their sustained support in advancing digital empowerment in Nigeria. He cited their partnership in both the IgniteHer initiative and the iHatch Incubation Programme, which supports early-stage startups with mentorship and innovation support.
“At NITDA, we believe that inclusive innovation is not just an ideal but a critical strategy for building stronger economies, smarter solutions, and resilient communities. Through IgniteHer, we are dismantling barriers and creating new pathways to opportunity,” he concluded.
Speaking at the event, the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Matsunaga Kazuyoshi, reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to innovation and gender inclusion in Nigeria. He disclosed that Japan, through JICA, is currently funding two grant projects worth $30.9 million to strengthen Nigeria’s startup ecosystem and promote inclusive innovation.
He also referenced the upcoming Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), themed “Co-create Innovative Solutions with Africa”, as a testament to Japan’s dedication to fostering Africa-Japan cooperation in digital transformation.
Lead facilitator of the IgniteHer Bootcamp, Hajiya Hafsat Salabi-Dange, lauded NITDA’s visionary leadership in bridging the digital gender divide. Describing the programme as a catalyst for socio-economic transformation, she urged participants to remain curious, intentional, and bold in their entrepreneurial journeys.
“What you will gain here goes beyond business; it is a tool for community upliftment, national growth, and generational impact,” she said.
With IgniteHer, NITDA continues to champion digital inclusion, amplify women’s voices in technology, and pave the way for a digitally empowered and economically inclusive Nigeria.
