This was the conclusion reached by speakers at a three day technology and entrepreneurship training forum held in Lagos. The forum was put together by leading global technology company, Intel Corporation and Women's Technology Empowerment Centre (W-TEC) as part of the corporation's commitment to nation building as well as empowering the 21st century woman.
The three-day free training was meant to encourage both aspiring and female entrepreneurs develop soft skills, especially in areas of ICT so as to be better positioned to compete favourably with their male counterparts from around the world.
In her remarks, Executive Director, The Women's Technology Empowerment Centre, Oreoluwa Somolu, stated: "Entrepreneurial forces are relatively strong in this country with women being at the hub of entrepreneurial activities. The lack of jobs and the rise in poverty leave few other options for the average Nigerian more so the Nigerian woman.
"However there appears to be a critical role and place of technology in entrepreneurship towards the advancement of the nation, for which the woman plays a critical role." Somolu said that such an initiative with women empowerment at its focus is a welcome development and hailed Intel Corporation for throwing its weight behind the workshop."
Also speaking at the workshop, Corporate Affairs Manager of Intel, Osagie Ogunbor, noted the initiative was borne out of the desire to stimulate interests in entrepreneurship as an approach to establish businesses that will strategically place women on a globally competitive level and ultimately reduce the increasing unemployment problem in Nigeria.
"The disparity between men and women in Nigeria with regard to access to basic ICT services has been a gross limitation to the country becoming a major economic bloc in the African sub-region and indeed the world," he said.
The initiative according to Ogunbor, is one of several other technology and education based initiatives championed by Intel towards improving the quality of life of people around the world. He added that Intel is working closely with the W-TEC to encourage the growth of individual businesses as part of a solution to unemployment.