The under/over series puts a spotlight on gender equity in data for social impact, and aims to raise awareness of successful ways for women and gender-diverse individuals to be represented in data and to themselves harness the power of data to drive social impact. Wuraola Taiwo, Project Manager at CCHub’s Digital Security is on a mission to empower women in Africa to become technically savvy and digitally safe.
Tell us about your work on gender and the role of data collection, analysis, and action. What significant findings have emerged from your work and what impact or outcomes have you observed?
At CCHUB’s Tech & Society Practice, we firmly believe that safe and unrestricted access to the Internet is a fundamental right for everyone. My work involves helping people grasp the basic concepts of digital security and emphasizing the importance of online privacy.
To accomplish this, I collaborate with local partners who assist us in implementing various training, intervention, and technical support projects for organizations across Africa. What’s been interesting is that as we’ve assessed the impact of our initiatives, we’ve been able to identify a correlation between women’s online security and their experiences within broader societal circumstances.
For instance, Nigeria is experiencing extreme inflation right now, and a substantial number of women sell groceries in the markets — they’re the ones doing most of the trading, and they’re also the ones financially supporting their families.
But the current economic situation is creating new financial constraints, which can cause or exacerbate domestic abuse within these women’s households. At the same time, they are confronted with the need to open bank accounts or secure online loans — something they’ve never done before — which puts them (and their data) at great risk for cyber targeting.
That’s where our cybersecurity training can help. We focus on empowering women to become technically savvy with the ultimate goal of becoming financially independent. Because honestly, that’s the easiest way to get them out of the situations they’re in at home. And that’s what I’m really passionate about — making sure women can improve their personal lives.
Data security should be an easy and natural habit for people so they don't have to exert extra effort to protect themselves online — whether it's simply knowing how to quickly and remotely wipe a stolen device or enabling two-factor authentication — small steps will make a genuine impact to safeguard those most digitally vulnerable, particularly women.
Wuraola Taiwo Project Manager, Digital Security CcHUB
When did you first recognize a gender challenge that could be addressed through data?
When I started this job, my primary goal was to ensure compliance with security policies. But, during the pandemic, I realized there was a deeper need for people on the ground to learn about online safety — and that this was something that I could do to really contribute to the broader culture.
The number of people using the internet or smartphones grew rapidly during the pandemic when face-to-face interaction was sometimes impossible. And with so many new, and often naive, technology users comes an increase in online security threats — particularly our most vulnerable populations, including women, children, the elderly, and the LGBTQ community.
For instance, organizations and individuals working with human rights defenders often seek our assistance. These people are tackling issues that are considered outside of the mainstream, such as writing articles or posting social media about LGBTQ people in Nigeria, despite the laws that criminalize unions or same-sex marriages. Not only are these individuals at risk, but the people working to amplify their voices are also a target of online attacks — whether on their assets or even on their physical safety.
What are some of the challenges of doing this work?
One of the challenges I face is the perception among some cybersecurity and technology professionals that people-facing roles are not as serious or valuable. As someone who transitioned from a law-related career to technology, I have obtained cybersecurity certifications and developed expertise in both technology and communication. Bridging the gap between understanding cyber security and people is crucial because they are often the weakest link in information security. I strive to break down advanced online security concepts in a way that non-technical individuals can understand to keep themselves and their data safe.
In addition to these challenges, the technology industry remains predominantly male. Even when women enter the field, they are often confined to non-technical roles or face biases that question their competence. Overcoming these biases and encouraging more women to pursue technical positions in cybersecurity is essential for fostering diversity and expertise in the industry.
“Bridging the gap between understanding cyber security and people is crucial because they are often the weakest link in information security. I strive to break down advanced online security concepts in a way that non-technical individuals can understand to keep safe.
Wuraola Taiwo Project Manager, Digital Security CcHUB
How do you see your work with gender and data evolving in the future?
I want to expand my work with organizations that focus on individuals, particularly women, who may have limited access to technology or lack knowledge about online safety. In the long run, I aspire to help people use the internet,technology, and data to improve their lives while also educating them about basic security practices that can keep them safe online.
What are your hopes for the future? What will more, better, and better-applied data change?
I’d like to see the development of a culture where digital security is ingrained at the organizational and personal levels. Data security should be an easy and natural habit for people so they don’t have to exert extra effort to protect themselves online — whether it’s simply enabling two-factor authentication or using strong and unique passwords across different social media platforms — small steps will make a genuine impact to safeguard those most digitally vulnerable, particularly women.
“5 Minutes with” series
These articles share the stories of people around the world leveraging data and AI to drive impact.