Technology
By Chiazo Ogbolu
Lagos, April 23, 2018(NAN) Mrs Ufuoma Emuophedaro, the Chief Executive Officer, eBusiness Life Communication, says supporting and empowering women in Information Technology (IT) will enable them become better technology users and creators.
Emuophedaro made this known in a statement in Lagos on Monday.
She said the need to empower women was borne out of the fact that the society had unconsciously relegated the female gender and delegated careers in technical fields, especially in ICT to their male counterparts.
She said that efforts should be made to introduce young girls to career opportunities in technical field in both the public and private sectors to help them have a wide range of options and contribute their quota in the industry.
“Events like the International Girls in ICT Day celebration and subsequent campaign will further open up opportunities for girls in the ICT sector.
“International Girls in ICT Day is celebrated every year on April 26, and an initiative backed by all ITU Member States.
“Supporting the global Girls in ICT movement empowers girls and young women, giving them the confidence to pursue ICT studies and careers.
“Girls and young women will have the potential not only to become ICT users, but also to become ICT creators,” she said.
Emuophedaro said that as part of the International Girls in ICT, there would be a coding training, competitions among students from select secondary schools.
She also suggested that roundtable discussion, interactive and motivational talk from renowned women ICT professionals, among others, should also be encouraged.
She added that the campaign would see young girls take part in facility tours to ICT facilities; participate in seminars that promote ICT development and undergo training in ICT.
“At the end of the event, it is expected that young girls and students should be able to introspect and pursue any desired career path in ICT without bias, or gender consciousness.
“Awards to be given to deserving female ICT practitioners, which will also form part of the celebration,” she said.
She said that leading sectorial ICT Firms Systemspecs, Vodacom Business Nigeria, New Horizons and VDT Communications would be part of the forthcoming 7th Edition of the International Girls in ICT Day holding on May 3.
She said that it was part of a global campaign to encourage young girls to delve into ICT as a profession and contribute their quota to the growth of the industry in Nigeria while also actualising self-development.
“In the past six years, eBusiness Life had organised the event annually in Nigeria, gathering young girls from different schools, to educate and sensitise them on the opportunities inherent in a profession in ICT.
“Also the girls have been made to go through hands-on training on various aspects of ICT and facility visits to ICT companies to get a firsthand experience of the intricacies of the ICT firms,” she said. (NAN)
CAN/BOLA/GY
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Edited by Bola Akingbehin/Grace Yussuf