By Bright Philip Donkor
Founder of Divaloper, Zulaiha Dobia Abdullah, has stressed the urgent need to bridge Africa’s digital divide by equipping young people, particularly women, with the necessary technological skills.
She made the call while speaking as a panelist on the topic ‘Leveraging Digital Infrastructure, Innovation, and Technology to Connect Africa’ on Day Two of the Africa Prosperity Dialogues 2025, held at the Accra International Conference on Friday, January 31.
She emphasised that digital inclusion was essential for the continent’s development. She cautioned that a lack of access to digital tools and training continued to limit opportunities for many.
Abdullah called on individuals to recognize their potential and take action. “It is time for them to qualify themselves, to work, and to realize that they can effectively use digital tools. Many individuals still struggle with basic digital skills, and we need to address this gap by focusing on education and accessibility,” she stated.
Reflecting on her own experiences, Abdullah recounted how transitioning from a privileged educational background to a more diverse environment exposed her to the reality of digital illiteracy. “In a classroom setting, when the teacher instructed students to ‘turn on your computers,’ many of them simply stared, unsure of what to do. That experience made me realize how privilege can sometimes shield us from understanding the real challenges others face in accessing and using technology,” she said
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