The Chairperson of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Federal Capital Territory Chapter, Mrs. Lami Ayuba, marked International Women’s Day by celebrating Nigerian women’s political, economic, social and cultural achievements. In a statement obtained by our correspondent on Wednesday night, she highlighted the Institute’s recognition of these achievements through the establishment of the Association of Women Town Planners in Nigeria (AWTPN), an arm of the parent body NITP with chapters across the country.
Mrs. Ayuba emphasized that celebrating Women’s Day is also a matter of gender equality. “This March 8 is another call to power on efforts to make the digital world safer, more inclusive, more equitable, and to create a better future—not just for women and girls, but for all humanity and all life on earth,” she said. She called for reflection on progress made, a demand for change, and celebration of the courage and determination of ordinary women who have played extraordinary roles in the nation’s history and in the town‑planning profession.
The theme of AWTPN, “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality,” reflects an inclusive vision in which no one is deprived of digital tools. Mrs. Ayuba stressed that no one should be left behind because of gender and urged the improvement of digital skills among women and girls. She announced that women planners will develop a digital‑education module for tertiary‑level girls, exposing them to digital tools and encouraging careers in technology, and she looks forward to partnering with the parent body and NGOs on this initiative.
Female town planners, she noted, have embraced development in the digital age, leaving a lasting impact on the profession. The adoption of digital education, transformative technology, and digital tools has accelerated planning processes and positively influenced the field. By leveraging real‑time data and digital technology, women planners can better understand the environment and make more informed urban‑planning decisions. Efficient digital systems can promote equity, improve accessibility, reduce congestion, foster sustainability and enhance quality of life, ultimately creating more livable, inclusive and resilient cities.
However, Mrs. Ayuba cautioned that it is essential to identify those who are being left behind before moving forward. She asked what percentage of women are truly digitally literate and integrated into the digital sphere—not merely using phones or social media, but adopting digital technology in their professional processes and conduct.
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