GIFON's Women in GEOINT program is dedicated to empowering and amplifying the voices of women in the field of Geospatial Intelligence. Through mentorship, skills development, and leadership opportunities, the program fosters gender equity, nurtures talent, and builds a strong network of female professionals driving innovation, national security, and sustainable development in Nigeria. By supporting women to lead, innovate, and excel, GIFON is shaping a more inclusive and impactful geospatial community.
Program Justification
Closing the Gender Gap in STEM and Security
Women’s participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), particularly in geospatial intelligence and security-related disciplines, remains disproportionately low. This initiative provides a pathway to bridge that gap.
Enhancing National Security and Development Outcomes
Research has shown that diverse perspectives improve problem-solving, innovation, and decision-making. By empowering women in GEOINT, Nigeria can strengthen its national security architecture and leverage broader insights for environmental management, disaster response, agriculture, and infrastructure planning.
Alignment with National and Global Priorities
The program directly supports Nigeria’s commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), while advancing the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and national development policies.
Capacity Building and Talent Acceleration
Creating mentorship, training, and research opportunities for women in GEOINT will expand the professional talent pool, encourage innovation, and foster the next generation of female geospatial leaders.
Creating Role Models and Mentors
Visible female leaders in GEOINT will inspire young girls and students to pursue careers in geospatial science, remote sensing, Geospatial Intelligence, data analytics, and related security/intelligence fields.
Promoting Equity and Inclusive Growth
Building an inclusive geospatial community ensures that women are not just beneficiaries of GEOINT applications but also active contributors to national intelligence, resilience, and development.
The Women in GEOINT Program is not only a gender equity initiative but also a strategic investment in Nigeria’s security, innovation, and sustainable development future.