Experts in Nigeria’s education sector are calling on stakeholders to adopt technology-driven solutions to tackle gender-based learning barriers and promote equal opportunities for all students. The October session of Edtech Mondays, a Co-Creation Hub (CCHUB) initiative in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation’s Centre for Innovative Teaching & Learning in ICT, focused on “Potential of Technology to Remove Gender-Based Learning Barriers and Drive Gender Transformative Education in Nigeria.” Moderated by Chinyelu Akpa, CcHUB’s Practice Lead in Education, the session explored how technology can enable transformative education.
Blessed Hammed-Musa, Program Coordinator at Women Technology Empowerment Centre, emphasized that technology can be a powerful catalyst for change in education, addressing gender biases that often hinder access to learning opportunities. Hammed-Musa stressed that access to digital resources, training, and mindset shifts are essential to achieving gender equity in education. She advised parents and educators to support equal access to educational tools for both boys and girls to ensure fair opportunities in digital literacy.
Abigail Anaza-mark, a Gender Equity/Program Associate with Re;learn, highlighted the role of technology in increasing female enrolment in schools across Nigeria. She explained that technology encourages creativity and opens new learning pathways for students affected by gender imbalance. Noting the influence of social media, she remarked, “Girls are now learning from the struggles and successes of women who have gone before them, creating a new sense of empowerment and purpose.”
Child forensic interview specialist Bisi Ajayi-Kayode underscored the importance of removing stereotypes that enforce rigid gender roles through transformative education. She called for an inclusive, safe environment in Nigeria’s educational landscape, one that is free from discriminatory laws and policies. Ajayi-Kayode warned that without a gender-focused approach, education risks marginalizing certain student groups, with repercussions like substance abuse and teenage pregnancy.
Statistics from UNICEF show that about 10.5 million Nigerian children are out of school, with girls disproportionately affected due to cultural and economic barriers. The panel agreed that technology holds great potential to bridge these gaps, fostering a more equitable learning environment that equips all students, regardless of gender, with the skills and confidence needed for future success.
