The Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Professor Ayo Omotayo, has called on women, particularly those in rural communities, to embrace technology and artificial intelligence as tools to transform access to justice and strengthen gender inclusion in Nigeria.
Omotayo made the call while delivering a keynote address at the national launch of the New Dawn for Women and Community Intervention Initiative (NEWOMCII) and a book unveiling held at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre and Suites in Abuja.
Speaking on the theme, “Empowering Women and Communities: A Practical Pathway for Transformation and Sustainable Development,” he said digital innovation must become a key driver of gender equity, community development and inclusive governance.
He stressed that artificial intelligence and mobile technology could be used to bridge long-standing gaps in access to justice, particularly for women in rural areas who often face barriers related to distance, cost and awareness.
“Technology can make access to protective and proactive justice local, where mobile platforms allow women in rural areas to seek legal aid and report discrimination instantly,” he said.
Omotayo noted that mobile technology had already proven its effectiveness in other sectors, particularly financial technology, which has expanded services to rural communities, and argued that similar models could be applied to justice delivery.
According to him, AI-driven systems could enable women to report discrimination instantly, access legal assistance, and connect with support services without needing to travel to urban centres.
He warned that women must not be left behind in the rapid development of artificial intelligence, urging stakeholders to ensure they are equipped with the digital skills required to participate in the evolving digital economy.
Omotayo also said AI-powered data systems could support broader development goals by helping civil society organisations monitor agribusiness performance and link rural artisans to global value chains.
The NIPSS DG observed that although Nigeria is a signatory 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 level remains weak.
He argued that meaningful progress would only be achieved when such international commitments are translated into practical realities within local government areas and rural communities.
“Real transformation will only occur when international gender agreements are translated into practical realities within local government areas and rural communities,” he said.
Omotayo proposed the establishment of what he described as “Cities or Communities for CEDAW”, a framework in which local governments voluntarily adopt global gender equity standards into their planning and governance systems.
He also called for closer collaboration among local government chairmen, traditional rulers and community institutions to improve women’s access to land, credit facilities and economic opportunities.
The NIPSS boss further disclosed that the institute, through the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Gender Centre of Excellence, was organising a national competition to assess states on gender neutrality and inclusive governance.
He said states would be evaluated based on women’s representation in decision-making structures, gender-responsive infrastructure planning, and the integration of gender neutrality into local laws and administrative processes.
Omotayo urged stakeholders to move beyond advocacy to implementation, insisting that women should be viewed as strategic economic assets rather than vulnerable groups.
“When we invest in a woman, we are not just performing a social good; we are making a high-yield economic investment,” he added.
Earlier, the Founder and Chairman of NEWOMCII, Bolaji Raji, said the organisation was established in response to limited opportunities and weak support systems for women and youths at the grassroots level.
He said the initiative was designed to promote practical empowerment and demand-driven capacity building in agribusiness, the arts, creative enterprise, skills acquisition, and community interventions.
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“At the heart of our work is a belief I hold strongly: when women are empowered, families thrive, and communities progress,” he said.
He added that NEWOMCII was seeking to collaborate with government agencies, private-sector actors, development partners, and the media to expand its reach across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of NEWOMCII, Sa’adatu Bokane Adamu, said the organisation focuses on agriculture, agribusiness, creativity, arts and crafts, noting that women play a critical role in national economic development within these sectors.
She said the initiative had already impacted several women’s groups through interventions in health, education, mobility, safety planning, humanitarian support, training and capacity building.
“With our operational presence across Nigeria, we are determined to replicate these interventions in all regions of the country,” she added.
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Bio: Okikiola is a writer and AI enthusiast with a background in Office Technology and Management from the Federal Polytechnic Offa. She went further to study an MSc in International Business at De Montfort University (DMU). With extensive work experience across administrative and business roles, she now focuses on exploring how artificial intelligence can transform work, innovation, and everyday life.