Kaduna State Launches Digital Skills Training for 5,000 Women

Beulah Godfrey

May 21, 2025
2 min read

Kaduna State has launched the Arewa Ladies for Tech programme to train 5,000 young women in data science, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital skills. The state announced this initiative on Monday to close the gender gap in digital literacy and support women in Nigeria’s fast-growing tech industry.

This new training programme plays a key role in Kaduna’s plan to boost women’s economic power. Through this effort, the state wants more women to take leadership roles in tech by helping them gain the digital skills needed for jobs and business opportunities.

In particular, Kaduna State is working to equip women with tools to succeed in areas like e-commerce, fintech, AI, and data analytics. Ultimately, the goal is to support women-led startups, create more jobs, and build a stronger, more diverse economy.

Government and Partners Collaborate to Drive Impact

To bring this project to life, the government partnered with the Kaduna Ministry of Business, Innovation and Technology (MBIT), the Kaduna Digital Economy Development Agency (KADEDA), and Dev-Afrique Advisors. Following a consultative meeting, they created the programme to prepare young women for success in high-growth tech sectors.

To ensure inclusivity, Patience Fakai, Commissioner of MBIT, explained that the programme now includes Hausa-language resources. As a result, women from different backgrounds can better understand and benefit from the training.

“Digital literacy is key to Kaduna’s economic growth,” said Fakai. “By breaking language barriers, we are helping women and girls succeed in high-tech careers.”

Overall, the Arewa Ladies for Tech programme supports Kaduna’s goal to involve more women in the digital economy and reduce gender gaps in tech. Notably, KADEDA’s role shows how digital agencies can turn government policies into real changes at the community level.

Moreover, with support from Dev-Afrique Advisors, the programme benefits from expert guidance to help it grow and last over time. In the long run, Kaduna’s approach could become a model for inclusive digital transformation across Nigeria, with women leading the way in tech innovation and economic progress.