As the world marks International Women’s Day 2025, Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF) reaffirms its commitment to bridging the gender digital divide by empowering women and girls with essential digital skills and financial inclusion opportunities. Recognizing the transformative power of digital literacy, CADEF continues to champion initiatives that equip women with the tools they need to thrive in the digital economy.

In 2024, CADEF successfully trained over 100 women and girls in digital skills, enhancing their ability to participate in the rapidly evolving digital space. Women remain underrepresented in the digital economy, with recent data from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) indicating that 37% of women worldwide still lack access to the internet, limiting their participation in digital finance and e-commerce opportunities.

In Nigeria, the gender gap in financial inclusion persists, with a 9% disparity between men and women in access to formal financial services, according to the Enhancing Financial Innovation & Access (EFInA) report.

By addressing these disparities, CADEF aims to build on its success in 2025, scaling its digital training programs to reach even more women and girls. With digital finance playing a critical role in economic empowerment, CADEF is also committed to equipping women and girls with the knowledge and tools to navigate digital financial services effectively.

“Our vision is to create a future where no woman is left behind in the digital revolution,” said Prof. Chiso Ndukwe-Okafor, Executive Director of CADEF.

“Through our digital skills and financial literacy programs, we are not only bridging the gender gap but also enabling women to take charge of their financial futures and unlock new economic opportunities.”

As part of its 2025 efforts, CADEF is expanding its reach to underserved communities, ensuring that more women gain the skills necessary to leverage digital platforms for entrepreneurship, career advancement, and financial independence. The organization’s initiatives are aligned with global efforts to promote gender equity in the digital space, reinforcing the theme of International Women’s Day 2025: Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.

Emphasising the commitment of the organization to the empowerment of women and girls, Lovelyn Okafor, Director of Programmes at CADEF said “We remain committed to providing women and girls with the training and resources they need to excel in an increasingly digital world. With every program we implement, we move closer to a more inclusive and empowered society.”

CADEF invites stakeholders, partners, and advocates to join in this mission of empowering women through digital skills and financial inclusion. By working together, we can build a more equitable future where women and girls have equal access to opportunities in the digital economy.

Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has filed a charge against MultiChoice Nigeria Limited and John Ugbe, its chief executive officer, for allegedly violating regulatory directives and obstructing an ongoing inquiry.

The three counts filed before the Federal High Court Lagos, bordered on willful implementation of a price hike contrary to the Commission’s directives, an offence which violates Section 33(4) of the FCCPC Act.

The other counts are on the company’s disregard for instructions to suspend the hike in violation of Section 110, and attempt to mislead the Commission by proceeding with the increase without objection contrary to Section 159(2), and punishable under Section 159(4)(a) and (b) of the FCCPA 2018 Act.

On February 24, 2025, MultiChoice announced a price increase for its DStv and GOtv subscription packages, set to take effect on March 1, 2025.

This announcement came nearly one year after a previous price hike and sparked a public backlash, prompting the FCCPC to intervene.

On February 27, 2025, the FCCPC expressly directed MultiChoice Nigeria to maintain its current pricing structure pending the conclusion of an investigative hearing of its proposed price hike.

However, the FCCPC alleged that MultiChoice Nigeria proceeded with the price increase despite these warnings in violation of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.

The Commission said that by disregarding its directive and implementing the price hike before appearing before the Commission’s investigative hearing on March 6, 2025, MultiChoice has by its actions flouted regulatory processes and also demonstrated a pattern of conduct that undermines consumer rights and fair competition

In addition to the legal actions, the FCCPC disclosed that it is reviewing further enforcement measures, including potential sanctions and penalties, and regulatory interventions, to ensure compliance and accountability.

The Commission reassured Nigerians that it is committed to protecting them against exploitative business practices and ensuring that dominant players in any sector adhere to fair market principles and legal compliance.

House of Representatives yesterday. directed Multichoice, the operator of DStv and GOtv, to immediately suspend its planned increase in subscription rates, citing the current economic challenges facing Nigerians.

The Pay-TV provider recently announced a price adjustment, set to take effect from March 1, which would see the DStv Premium package rise from N37,000 to N44,500, while Compact+ subscribers would pay N30,000 instead of N25,000. The Compact bouquet would also increase from N17,000 to N19,000.

The directive followed a motion moved by Esosa Iyawe, an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker representing Edo State, during Tuesday’s plenary session.

Iyawe highlighted that Multichoice had cited rising operational costs as the reason for the hike, but noted that this would be the second increase in less than a year, with the last adjustment occurring in May 2024.

“Multichoice recently announced a hike in subscription rates across all its packages, citing rising operational costs. However, this marks the second increase in less than a year, with the last adjustment made in May 2024.” Iyawe stated.

He further emphasized that the previous hike had sparked widespread public outrage, forcing many Nigerians to abandon their decoders due to the lack of competition in the pay-TV sector.

“Multichoice’s dominance in the market means any price increase has a widespread impact, putting consumers under undue financial pressure,” he added.

Following the adoption of the motion, the House resolved that Multichoice should halt the proposed hike pending a thorough investigation.

The lawmakers also mandated the House Committee on Commerce to probe the recurring increases in subscription fees and ensure cost-effective policies for Nigerian consumers.

The committee was given four weeks to submit its findings.