MTN Nigeria has called for accelerated efforts to close Africa’s digital gender gap, warning that women remain significantly underrepresented in the continent’s digital economy.
The General Manager, Enterprise Marketing, MTN Nigeria, Mrs Njideka Jack, made the call at at the Women in Technology and Engineering Summit and Awards (WITESA 5.0) on Tuesday in Lagos.
The WITESA 5.0, organised by Womenovate and Tech Revolution Africa, has the theme: “Engineering Africa’s Future: Innovation, Infrastructure and Inclusive Technology”.
She said that about 26 per cent fewer women than men use the internet across sub-Saharan Africa.
Jack said bridging the digital divide was critical to unlocking Africa’s development potential, especially amid rapid advances in artificial intelligence, broadband expansion and digital innovation.
According to her, increased access to digital infrastructure delivers measurable economic gains.
She noted that every 10 per cent rise in broadband penetration could increase a country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2.5 per cent.
She stressed that women must not be excluded from ongoing digital transformation efforts across governments and businesses.
“Technology, innovation and digital infrastructure must be inclusive if Africa is to achieve its full economic potential,” she said.
Jack noted that Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which account for about 46 per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), remain central to economic growth and require stronger access to technology, financing and digital infrastructure.
She said MTN Business was supporting enterprises through cloud services, enterprise connectivity, cybersecurity, Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, managed ICT services and digital platforms aimed at improving productivity and competitiveness.
According to her, the company’s sovereign cloud infrastructure enables businesses to store and manage data locally in compliance with the data protection regulations.
She added that MTN’s network now covers about 90.7 per cent of the nation’s population, while broadband penetration stands at about 90 per cent, with 5G coverage expanding steadily.
Jack also said the company was also deploying IoT solutions for asset tracking, smart metering, smart cities and industrial applications to support data-driven decision-making and operational efficiency.
She identified cybersecurity as a growing concern in the digital economy, noting that MTN provides solutions to protect enterprise networks, business systems and mobile devices.
The MTN executive also highlighted support for small businesses through the MyKia digital storefront and MySME platform.
She explained that MyKia enables entrepreneurs to showcase products, receive digital payments, manage inventory and fulfil orders, while MySME provides access to business information, training, market opportunities and financing options.
On gender inclusion, Jack said MTN remained committed to promoting women in technology and leadership.
She disclosed that women make up 41.4 per cent of MTN Nigeria’s workforce and 46.7 per cent of its executive management team.
Jack also cited MTN Foundation’s N1 billion matching fund initiative for women-led businesses, aimed at strengthening female entrepreneurship and expanding economic opportunities.
According to her, the Yellowpreneur programme has supported 5,754 women entrepreneurs and facilitated over N300 million in loans.
She urged stakeholders across government, academia and the private sector to collaborate in building inclusive digital ecosystems that empower women, strengthen businesses and drive sustainable economic growth across Africa.
The summit brought together policymakers, technology leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers and students to discuss strategies for a more inclusive digital future for Africa.
