Increasing women’s access to online learning can improve their economic prospects and open up new career paths, according to an International Finance Corporation (IFC) report.
The study found that one in three Nigerian women surveyed reported positive career or business outcomes after taking online courses, including finding a new job, setting up a business, or improving job performance.
The research is part of the “Women and Online Learning in Emerging Markets” report from IFC, created in partnership with the global online learning platform Coursera and the European Commission. The report also found that in Nigeria, one job is created for every 30 people trained on Coursera.
The study uses data from Coursera to quantify women’s participation in online education, identify challenges to greater participation, and provide recommendations for the public and private sectors to improve lifelong learning opportunities and outcomes for women.
Kalim M. Shah, IFC’s Senior Country Manager for Nigeria, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, said, “This report, conducted through IFC’s Digital2Equal initiative, highlights the importance of technology and online learning in boosting access to new skills and creating opportunities for women and entrepreneurs more broadly. IFC is committed to empowering more women in business by leveraging the digital economy,”
“Our research highlights the potential for online learning to bridge the gender gap in Nigeria by providing women with access to in-demand skills and new career opportunities. It also shows that online education can not only benefit individual women, but also drive economic growth through job creation,” said Kais Zribi, General Manager for the Middle East and Africa at Coursera.
“Governments, businesses and institutions must work closely to address some of the key challenges facing women in Nigeria. Public-private partnerships will be critical to unlock women’s full potential and create more opportunities.”
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Among other key findings in Nigeria:
Women’s enrollment in online education has accelerated, but a gender gap persists, according to IFC report.
In Nigeria, men make up the majority of online learners. However, over the past five years, the proportion of female learners has grown from 26% in 2017 to 32% in 2022.
Women were twice as likely as men to cite family and childcare obligations as their motivation to learn online. 27% of women were motivated by the pandemic, and 20% by personal preferences.
Credential acceptance is key to attracting more online learners, with more than 50% citing it as a key reason to enrol. Nigerian learners also rate the credibility of online learning highest when compared with learners from other countries in the study.
Online learning can lead to career outcomes and economic gains in Nigeria.
38% of online learners in Nigeria reported a positive job or business outcome due to online learning.
27% of women built skills to prepare for a new job application. 14% of women employees received a new job or a promotion. 23% of women improved their performance in their existing job or businesses.
Women entrepreneurs in Nigeria had particularly stand-out results: 70% of women who joined online learning to set up and manage their own businesses reported achieving their goals.
In Nigeria, one job is created for every 30 people trained on Coursera. Improved skills and qualifications create new jobs directly through the creation of new businesses. Jobs are also created indirectly through increased consumption and economic activity driven by higher incomes.
Online learning has the potential to reach underserved populations in Nigeria further.
The largest category of learners in Nigeria (36%) report a monthly household income below the 50th percentile at 55,000 Nigerian Naira.
Over a quarter of women reported a need to overcome connectivity challenges. Yet, the interest in online learning is still strong: 65% of women and 76% of men report that they will continue learning online exclusively in the future.
The “Women and Online Learning in Emerging Markets” study draws on data from nearly 97 million Coursera learners in over 190 countries, surveys of nearly 10,000 learners across Egypt, India, Mexico, and Nigeria who completed at least one lesson on the platform, and interviews with over 70 global learners and industry experts.
About IFC
IFC — a member of the World Bank Group — is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets.
IFC committed a record $32.8 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of global compounding crises.
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