Mobile internet boom bypasses six in 10 Nigerian women

More than six in 10 adult women have remained excluded from the mobile internet boom despite Nigeria’s 172.67 million mobile subscriptions.

Only 35 percent of adult women in the country use mobile internet, compared to 52 percent of adult men, according to the Mobile Gender Gap Report 2025 by GSMA, the global industry body for mobile operators.

GSMA highlighted that women are still unlikely to own smartphones and come online compared to men. Only 39 percent of adult women in the country, compared to 50 percent of men, owned smartphones in 2024, leaving a gender gap of 23 percent.

These women are part of the 945 million women in low- and middle-income countries who do not own smartphones. This is particularly critical in Nigeria, where smartphones serve as the primary gateway to the internet and digital services. As of April 2025, there were 141.47 million mobile internet subscriptions.

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“Smartphones are the computers for many Nigerians,” said Adia Sowho, former chief marketing officer of MTN Nigeria.

Despite the growing importance of connectivity, women continue to be left behind. Basic feature phones remain prevalent among Nigerian women, with 40 percent using them, compared to 29 percent of men. While these phones support calls, SMS, and USSD-based mobile money services, their limited functionality restricts access to broader digital opportunities. “Other use cases are limited without access to mobile internet,” GSMA said.

The findings echo recent concerns from Bosun Tijani, minister of communications, innovation and digital economy, who recently revealed that at least 68 percent of Nigerian women still lack access to smartphones, limiting their participation in the digital economy and access to essential online services.

The minister warned that when half the population continues to lack access to technology, the nation is not only failing women but also undermining their overall potential. Currently, the digital economy contributes about 16 percent and 18 percent to Nigeria’s GDP.

According to the GSMA, affordability, particularly of handsets, alongside low literacy and limited digital skills, remains a major barrier to mobile ownership for both women and men. The cost of an entry-level smartphone represents 24 percent of women’s monthly income in low- and middle-income countries, compared to 12 percent for men.

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As the world becomes increasingly digital, narrowing the mobile gender gap is crucial for ensuring women’s full participation in the digital economy. While GSMA gave several recommendations, it tasked regulators and policymakers to consider subsidy programmes to help make handsets and data services more affordable.

“Design subsidy programmes that target underserved women,” it added.