Youthup Global To Empower 10,000 African Women With Digital Skills

A group, YouthUp Global has launched the DigitizeHer Campaign, a Pan-African initiative aimed at equipping 10,000 young women in 10 African countries with digital skills, mentorship and access to economic opportunities.

The campaign was unveiled during a virtual symposium held to mark International Women’s Day, with the theme “Closing the Digital Gender Gap in Africa: What Must Be Done.” The event brought together development experts, digital inclusion advocates and young women from across the continent.

In her keynote address, gender inclusion advocate, Dr Dinatu Dama Maji, described women’s exclusion from the digital economy as a major threat to Africa’s growth. She called on governments, businesses and development partners to invest in digital infrastructure, leadership and mentorship for women, stressing that inclusion is critical to sustainable development.

Speakers at the event highlighted the need to move beyond access to technology and focus on translating digital presence into economic opportunities.

The programme lead of the DigitizeHer Campaign, Millicent Adhiambo Otieno, said many women were online but lacked pathways to convert digital access into sustainable careers.

She emphasised the importance of creating direct links between digital training and employment, entrepreneurship and income generation.

Also, the co-founder of Trendline Training and Consultancy Limited, Priscilla Ngambi, underscored the need for collaboration and deliberate policy action to enhance women’s participation in the digital economy. She noted that mentorship and guidance are key to overcoming barriers such as self-doubt among women.

Youth advocate and global ambassador from Tanzania, Leah Sambala, identified infrastructure deficits, high cost of data, unreliable electricity and limited access to devices as persistent challenges facing women across Africa. She also pointed to digital literacy and cultural barriers as critical issues requiring urgent attention.

In a goodwill message, the founder of MySpace Hub, Sandra Kambikambi, said women remain underrepresented in digital programmes across the continent. She cited a recent digital literacy initiative where women accounted for only 35 per cent of participants, adding that efforts are underway to increase female participation to over 50 per cent.

The director of Social Impact and Development Programmes at YouthUp Global, Sola Magaji, described DigitizeHer as a strategic intervention designed to expand access to opportunities and reshape participation in Africa’s digital economy. She noted that the campaign would provide mentorship, hands-on projects and work experience through its ETDR platform.

In his remarks, the president of YouthUp Global, Dr Faith Nwaobia, said the initiative reflects a long-term commitment to democratising access to opportunities for young women across Africa. He added that the campaign aims to ensure women can translate digital skills into tangible economic outcomes.

The vice president of the organisation, Gathoni Kungu, reiterated that Africa’s challenge is no longer just access to technology, but ensuring that digital training leads to real income, opportunity and inclusion for women.