SheConnect, an Abuja –based NGO, has called on female scientists to ensure they close the gender gap between men and women in Science, Technology, Engineeering and Mathematics (STEM).
The Founder of the group, Modupe Kanu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday that gender equality could be achieved when girls and women put their access to internet to innovative use.
SheConnect is an Abuja based NGO that caters to the girls and women in ICT through mentoring and training.
Kanu said: “What you do when you are on the internet is the first step to closing the gender gap; you find out that more men are doing more innovative and useful things online than the women.
“There is a sharp contrast between what most women do online with their access to internet, compared to what most men do.
“In most developing countries, you will find more women on dating sites, fashion sites, gossip blogs and so on instead of research inclined or innovative sites.’’
According to her, for women to participate in the digital society and contribute to the digital age, they need the digital skills to use the internet for better things.
“Putting the internet to good use that can advance the digital society is important in closing the wide gap in STEM education between the men and women.
“As long as everyone feels safe online, the best is to maximise its usage because apart from gender and cultural stereotypes, there is nothing that should limit more participation of girls and women in sciences.
“ The internet is one of the most empowering technologies the world has ever seen, but unless women are equally able to benefit from it gainfully, the gender divides risks driving further and creates inequality.
“Exclusion of women from the digital society is a threat to progress and denies more women opportunities to improve their lives.’’
Kanu said that the lack of rightfully appropriating digital skills by women will continue to widen the gap. (NAN)
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