To promote inclusivity in the ride-hailing business, Bolt, an all-in-one mobility app, has committed $2.71 million (N1.25 billion) to empower more women to drive with Bolt and other ride-hailing platforms.
A video posted on the company's website said the pledge is part of Bolt's newly launched campaign, 'Women at the Wheel,' which aims to address the under-representation of women in the mobility sector and provide them additional earning opportunities as drivers in ride-hailing platforms.
Venus Lim, Bolt's director of central operations for ride-hailing, emphasized, "Women are under-represented in many parts of society, but in the mobility sector, the inequality is particularly stark. There are many reasons why women are unlikely to consider becoming a driver, and this campaign aims to raise awareness about the prejudices held against female drivers. Our goal is to make it easier for women to access flexible, independent work on Bolt and other ride-hailing platforms, especially at a time when the cost of living is increasing for everyone."
The 'Women at the Wheel' campaign runs in eleven countries, including Azerbaijan, Nigeria, Romania, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Portugal, Poland, Slovakia, Croatia, Latvia, and Estonia.
Bolt has pledged investment in various initiatives across different countries to overcome the barriers preventing women from working in the mobility sector. These include partnerships with women's rights NGOs and advocacy groups for female drivers, subsidies for licensing costs to facilitate women's entry into driving, and developing new safety features on the Bolt app.
Yahaya Mohamed, country manager of rides, emphasized that "We value all our drivers and recognize their integral role in the continued growth of our brand. Achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls (UN SDG 5) is a key pillar of our work. Through the Women at the Wheel campaign, we aim to offer more viable economic opportunities to women in Nigeria while advancing the industry's growth. Ensuring their safety, both as drivers and riders on our platform, remains a top priority. We continuously review and innovate safety features to deliver the right experience."
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