NCWS Seeks Digital Partnership With NCC to Empower Women
The National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) Nigeria has called for stronger collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to promote digital literacy, gender inclusivity, and rural connectivity to empower women and girls across the country.
The call was made yesterday the 23rd of September 2025, during a courtesy visit by a delegation of NCWS to the NCC headquarters in Abuja, led by its National President, Princess Edna D.D. Azura.
Speaking at the meeting, Princess Azura said the council, as the umbrella body of women’s organisations with presence in the 36 states and 774 LGAs, is committed to advancing the rights, welfare, and leadership of Nigerian women. She emphasised that partnering with NCC would accelerate efforts to close the gender digital divide and ensure that women and girls are not left behind in the digital age.
“By combining NCWS’s grassroots experience with NCC’s technological expertise, we can tackle challenges like disparities in access to information and create lasting change that uplifts women, strengthens families, and builds a more connected and inclusive Nigeria,” she said.
She highlighted four key areas for collaboration:
Digital literacy and empowerment programs to train women, especially in rural areas, in online skills for education, entrepreneurship, and health.
Health and social campaigns through mobile platforms to reach women with real-time updates on maternal care and vaccination drives.
Gender inclusivity in the tech sector by encouraging women to pursue careers in telecommunications and ICT.
Community outreach and rural connectivity to enable women-led businesses to access markets and networks.
Responding on behalf of the NCC Executive Vice Chairman, the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management (ECSM), Ms Rimi Makama, commended the council for its advocacy and assured that the commission welcomes partnership with NCWS.
She noted that women are already playing significant roles within the NCC, with over 28 directors and deputy directors currently serving in leadership positions. She also outlined several awareness programs the commission has carried out across the six geopolitical zones, ensuring women’s inclusion in ICT training and digital campaigns.
Other directors, including the Director of Finance, Mr Yakubu Gomtor, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to rural connectivity and sensitisation campaigns aimed at equipping women with communication skills. They explained that NCC had conducted community outreach initiatives across the country to empower women to leverage digital tools from their homes.
The NCC team also pledged to collaborate with NCWS in the commission’s Child Online Protection Program, designed to safeguard children from online fraud and regulate internet use among young people.
The meeting ended with both organisations expressing optimism about building a lasting partnership to advance women’s empowerment through digital innovation.
NCWS Nigeria,
Media Unit.
