UN organisations accentuate the importance of digital inclusion of girls during the international day of the girl child

In its statement for the international day of the girl child, the UN Women underscored that for girls to lead the digital transformation and be part of the digital generation, it is important to consider the various digital realities that girls encounter and how it can excavate the gender divide around connectivity, skills, and online safety. ‘Not only do digital inclusion and literacy open new avenues for girls’ learning and earning, technology is a crucial enabler of the change girls are already leading around the world in areas such as gender equality, climate action, and social justice.’ In some developing countries, this digital divide is manifested. ‘On digital access in low and middle-income countries such as Nigeria, more than 50 percent of women are offline, and women are 20 percent less likely than men to own a smartphone. Digital inclusion and specifically digital literacy is becoming just as crucial to well-being and success as the ability to read and write. The gender digital divide in connectivity, access to devices, and the skills to use are real. Girls are less privileged in this area. This inequality has created an exclusion gap across geographies and generations,’ noted the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Deputy Representative in Nigeria, Rushnan Murzata.