Abuja: Prof. Ayo Omotayo, the Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), has urged women, particularly in rural communities, to embrace technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance access to justice. Omotayo made the call on Tuesday in Abuja while delivering a keynote address at the inauguration of a Non-governmental Organisation, New Dawn for Women and Community Intervention Initiative (NEWOMCII).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the DG emphasized that digital innovation must drive gender equity, community development, and inclusive governance in Nigeria. He highlighted that mobile technology, already widely used in fintech services across rural areas, could be deployed to provide protective and proactive justice for women facing discrimination and exclusion. Omotayo stated that mobile platforms could enable women in rural areas to seek legal aid and report discrimination instantly.
He cautioned against the exclusion of women from the growing influence of AI, urging stakeholders to equip them with relevant digital skills and tools for effective participation in the evolving economy. He added that AI-driven data systems could support civil society organizations in monitoring agribusiness performance and linking rural artisans to global value chains.
The director-general observed that despite Nigeria’s commitment to international frameworks such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Maputo Protocol, implementation at the grassroots remained weak. He maintained that meaningful transformation would only occur when such frameworks were translated into practical realities at local government and community levels.
Omotayo proposed the creation of ‘Cities or Communities for CEDAW,’ suggesting it could serve as a model where local governments voluntarily integrate global gender equity standards into their governance structures. He also called for stronger collaboration among local government chairmen, traditional rulers, and community institutions to improve women’s access to land, credit, and economic opportunities.
He further disclosed that NIPSS, through the Sen. Oluremi Tinubu Gender Centre of Excellence, was organizing a national competition to assess states on gender neutrality and inclusive governance. According to him, states will be evaluated based on women’s representation in decision-making, gender-responsive infrastructure, and the integration of gender neutrality into laws and administrative systems.
Omotayo urged stakeholders to prioritize implementation over advocacy, emphasizing the economic value of investing in women. He said, ‘When we invest in a woman, we are not just performing a social good; we are making a high-yield economic investment.’
Earlier, Mr. Bolaji Raji, the Founder and Chairman of NEWOMCII, stated that the initiative was established to address the lack of opportunities and support systems for women and youths at the grassroots. Raji mentioned that the organization focuses on practical empowerment and demand-driven capacity building through agribusiness, arts, creative enterprise, skills acquisition, and community interventions.
Raji also expressed the organization’s aim to collaborate with government agencies, the private sector, development partners, and the media to expand its reach across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Mrs. Saadatu Adamu, the National Coordinator of NEWOMCII, added that the initiative targets key sectors such as agriculture, agribusiness, creativity, arts, and crafts, where women play vital roles in economic development.
Adamu highlighted that the organization has impacted several communities through interventions in health, education, mobility, safety planning, humanitarian services, training, and capacity building. She affirmed, ‘With our operational presence across Nigeria, we are determined to replicate these interventions in all regions of the country.’
Adamu concluded by stating that NEWOMCII is a national non-governmental, non-profit organization dedicated to empowering women and uplifting communities across Nigeria through sustainable, inclusive, and gender-responsive development.