Abstract
This study examined how men and women who own micro businesses in La- gos, Nigeria, use mobile apps for business. The paper analyses the findings from Amartya Sen’s capability approach viewpoint. The two key findings suggest that women micro business owners make more use of mobile apps compared to men, and that they tend to exit micro businesses as they grow older indicating a possi- ble influence of patriarchy in African contexts. Specifically, women seized op- portunities presented by mobile apps to acquire capabilities to function; and they adapt mobile apps to enhance their wellbeing and freedom despite the restrictions and responsibilities in the patriarchal environments typical of low-income coun- tries. The insignificant gender gap in certain mobile app usages presents new perspectives to debates on gender (economic) gaps, inequality, women empow- erment, and technology uptake in low-income country contexts.