The international academic community is set for a significant intellectual gathering of high distinction as the WOW International Women’s Conference 2026 prepares to host Professor Ifeyinwa Nsude as a keynote speaker at the Ramses Hilton in Cairo, Egypt. Titled “Leveraging Digital and Media Literacy: African Women Redefining Propensity,” her presentation promises a rich exploration of how digital fluency and ethical media engagement can serve as vehicles for sovereignty and social transformation in a changing world. Professor Nsude, a distinguished academic, Deputy President of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN), and the first female Professor of Mass Communication at Ebonyi State University (EBSU), is widely recognized for pioneering scholarly inquiry into the intersections of media ethics and technological advancement. Her research, which famously culminated in her 24th inaugural lecture at EBSU on child rights and "digital conundrums," has consistently advanced the global understanding of how communication frameworks protect the vulnerable.
The theme of this year’s conference, "RISE IN CAIRO – Redefining Power, Purpose, and Progress for Women in a Changing World,"_ provides the perfect backdrop for Prof. Nsude’s significant advancement toward digital literacy. In a powerful pre-conference statement, the Professor noted that women need to be uplifted and granted a resounding voice, emphasizing that they must move beyond outdated 18th-century limitations to compete favorably in a modern, globalized landscape. This appointment is not merely a lecture but a presiding moment for the ACSPN leader, who has spent her career fostering a culture of standing up for women and encouraging them to bridge the "digital divide." Prof. Nsude has stressed that bridging the gender digital divide is a key challenge for women in the digital world, warning that if this gap is not addressed, digital technologies risk exacerbating existing inequalities rather than reducing them. Prof. Nsude’s extensive profile includes her appointment to the UNESCO Scientific Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Social Innovation in Bordeaux, France. This international engagement lends depth to her current mission, as she continues to establish vital links between UNESCO, Nigeria, and EBSU. By situating digital literacy as a tool for economic sovereignty rather than just a technical skill, she argues that the "digital frontier" must be conquered by the authentic mind of the African woman. The Cairo event serves as an intellectual exemplar of how African scholarship can be validated within the global academy through original, rigorous thought, ensuring that technology serves to empower rather than displace human ingenuity.
As she prepares to take the stage, her mission remains a rallying call for deliberate, decisive, and bold action to break barriers, close gaps, and empower women and girls to take their rightful place in every sphere of society. Prof. Nsude has called for an urgent "join-up action" by policymakers, the private sector, and civil society to ensure that the potentials of the digital revolution are accessible to all. Her leadership reinforces a lifelong commitment to "accelerating action," moving beyond token representation into decisive power dynamics. As the first female Mass Communication Professor at EBSU, her consistent progress in visibility sets a framework for sustainability and entrepreneurship for the next generation, ensuring that the future of African academia is built on the foundation of authentic human excellence.
