By Gbenga Akingbule.
The Digital Literacy Working Group (DLWG) has opened new investment opportunities for women and girls in the North East through a two-day digital investment summit .
Gatekeepers News reports that the summit , tagged Northeast Women and Girls Digital Investment Summit 1.0, was organised under the theme, “Bridging the Divide for Inclusive Development in Northeast Nigeria,” with a focus on promoting digital inclusion, strengthening the capacity of women and girls and connecting their innovations to potential investors.
The two-day event which ended in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital on Wednesday , brought together investors from United Nations organisations, international non-governmental organisations (INGOs), private organisations, financial institutions and representatives of the Borno State Government to explore opportunities for collaboration and investment in women- and girls-led digital initiatives across the region.
The event also provided a platform for women and girls to showcase their ideas, innovations and digital skills while engaging with organisations and individuals capable of providing the financial and institutional support needed to transform their initiatives into sustainable ventures.
Brenda Nkamo , Executive Director (ED) of Nkamson Charity Foundation (NCF) and Team Lead of the Northeast Women and Girls Digital Investment Summit 1.0, said the initiative was conceived as an advocacy platform to promote digital literacy and expand opportunities for women and girls across the region.
According to her , “Digital literacy is an advocacy move that this summit was birthed on in order for us to reach out to the Northeast generally.”
Nkamo noted that expanding digital literacy across the region would require sustained collaboration among stakeholders and deliberate investment in skills development and access to technology.
She disclosed that some investors had already begun expressing interest in the innovations showcased by participants, describing the development as an encouraging outcome of the summit.
“Some of the investors are already reaching out to us to request some of the innovators who displayed their ideas,” she said.
The ED also stressed the positive engagement with financial institutions, particularly banks, which showed interest in improving their digital services through the innovations and discussions at the summit.
“The conversation with some of the banks that were present shows that they are very interested in how they can improve their mobile applications. That alone is already a success story for this summit,” she said.
She stressed the importance of bringing investors and development organisations closer to women and girls with innovative ideas, noting that such engagements could help unlock their potential and create opportunities for sustainable economic empowerment.
As organisers look forward to Northeast Women and Girls Digital Investment Summit 2.0 slated to hold in Yobe State in 2027 , the ED stated that ” the Northeast Women and Girls Digital Investment Summit 1.0 is expected to serve as a platform for building lasting partnerships, attracting investment and advancing digital inclusion, with the broader goal of ensuring that women and girls across the North East have greater opportunities to contribute to the region’s development.”
