As part of efforts to advance President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has launched the second cohort of the IgniteHer Bootcamp for Women Entrepreneurs, a strategic initiative aimed at accelerating gender inclusion and fostering economic empowerment through digital innovation.
the DG NITDA) delivering his speech at the event.
Themed “Empowering Women Entrepreneurs for Growth and Innovation”, the bootcamp is organised in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and brings together selected women entrepreneurs from across Nigeria both in-person and virtually for comprehensive 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 aligning Nigeria’s digital transformation with national priorities of economic reform, inclusive growth, and diversification through industrialisation and technology.
“Through IgniteHer, we are actualising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by expanding women’s access to technology and economic opportunity,” Inuwa stated.
Represented by the Acting Director of Digital Literacy and Capacity Building, Dr. Ahmed Tambuwal, the DG emphasised that inclusive innovation is a key pillar of NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0: 2024–2027), designed to support national aspirations in poverty reduction, job creation, and youth empowerment.
“We are not merely imparting skills; we are creating self-reliant entrepreneurs, change-makers, and leaders,” he added.
Inuwa also noted that the IgniteHer Bootcamp is a flagship programme under the National Gender Digital Inclusion Strategy (NGDIS), through which NITDA aims to empower 12.7 million Nigerian women with digital literacy skills by 2027. The initiative, he said, aligns with broader government efforts to close the gender gap, enhance productivity, and reduce unemployment, especially among young women.
Citing a report by the World Wide Web Foundation, he revealed that closing the digital gender gap in Nigeria could unlock as much as $13 billion in GDP growth over the next decade.
“This training is a step towards harnessing this economic potential and ensuring that women play an integral role in shaping the digital landscape of Nigeria,” Inuwa noted.
He further encouraged the participants—selected from over 12,000 applicants—to seize the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Commending the partnership with JICA and the Government of Japan, the DG highlighted the importance of global collaboration in driving innovation. He referenced other joint programmes, such as the iHatch Incubation Programme, which provides startup support, mentorship, and innovation development for early-stage entrepreneurs.
“At NITDA, we believe inclusive innovation is not just an ideal, but a critical pathway to building a stronger economy, smarter solutions, and more resilient communities. Through IgniteHer, we are dismantling barriers and replacing them with pathways to opportunity,” he concluded.
On his part, the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Matsunaga Kazuyoshi, reaffirmed Japan’s longstanding commitment to innovation and gender inclusion in Nigeria. He disclosed that Japan, through JICA, is currently supporting two major grant projects valued at $30.9 million, focused on strengthening Nigeria’s startup ecosystem, improving the investment climate, and fostering inclusive innovation.
The Ambassador also referenced the forthcoming Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), themed “Co-create Innovative Solutions with Africa”, as a testament to Japan’s dedication to strengthening digital cooperation across Africa.
Speaking on the impact of the programme, Lead Facilitator of IgniteHer, Hajiya Hafsat Salabi-Dange, described the bootcamp as a powerful catalyst for social and economic transformation. She commended NITDA’s visionary approach to development and described IgniteHer as a movement that is bridging the digital gender divide and fostering economic independence.
Encouraging participants to stay curious, intentional, and bold, she said:
“What you will gain here goes beyond business it is a tool for community upliftment, national growth, and generational impact.”
