Digital Empowerment: Women Bridging the Gap
CADEF's Initiative Fosters Skills and Financial Inclusion
In a bid to democratize digital access, the Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF) has reaffirmed its commitment to bridging the digital divide by empowering women with transformative skills and financial inclusion tools.
Prof. Chiso Ndukwe-Okafor, the Chief Executive Officer of CADEF, said this in a statement on Saturday.
According to her, CADEF’s vision is to create a future where no woman is left behind in the digital revolution.
She said that through CADEF’s digital skills and financial literacy programmes, women are not only bridging the gender gap but also being enabled to take charge of their financial futures and unlock new economic opportunities.
Highlighting the importance of digital literacy, Ndukwe-Okafor said that recent data from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) indicated that 37 percent of women worldwide still lacked access to the internet.
She noted that this limited their participation in digital finance and e-commerce opportunities.
Ndukwe-Okafor said that CADEF had successfully trained over 100 women and girls in digital skills in 2024, enhancing their ability to participate in the rapidly evolving digital space.
She also disclosed that CADEF would be expanding its reach to underserved communities this year, ensuring that more women gained the skills necessary to leverage digital platforms.
The CADEF boss said that the skills gained could be used for entrepreneurship, career advancement, and financial independence.
She said that CADEF’s initiatives were aligned with global efforts to promote gender equity in the digital space, reinforcing the theme of International Women’s Day 2025: “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.”
According to Lovelyn Okafor, Director of Programmes at CADEF, the organisation remained committed to providing women and girls with the training and resources they needed to excel in an increasingly digital world.
Okafor added that with every program CADEF implemented, it moved closer to a more inclusive and empowered society.
She stressed that the Foundation invited stakeholders, partners, and advocates to join in its mission of empowering women through digital skills and financial inclusion.
“By working together, a more equitable future can be built where women and girls have equal access to opportunities in the digital economy,” Okafor said. (NAN)
