Nigerian Communications
Commission (NCC) and Globacom have reaffirmed their commitment towards ensuring
that the gender disparity in the ICT career sector is bridged. This underscored
their support for this year’s edition of the International Girls in ICT Day
campaign being organized by eBusiness Life Communication Limited.
The event, which will hold at the
Lagos Oriental Hotel on May 9, 2024 is part of an annual campaign initiated by
the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to sensitise and encourage
young women and girls to delve into ICT and related careers, which is seen to
have been dominated by the male gender. The theme for this year is “Leadership”.
The NCC and Globacom have been
consistent in their support for this campaign that throws more light on the
need to groom technologically-inclined girls for the future.
According to the Publisher/CEO of
eBusiness Life Communication and convener of the event, Mrs. Ufuoma
Emuophedaro, the annual event underscores the important role women are meant to
play in the future of innovative technology.
While appreciating the companies
and institutions that have supported the campaign over the years, Mrs.
Emuophedaro called on other forward-looking organisations to join hands with
eBusiness Life to sensitise young girls on the need to strategically position
themselves for the careers of the future by latching on the provisions of
technology today.
She noted that the campaign is
premised on the fact that the society has unconsciously relegated the female
gender and delegated careers in technical fields, especially in ICT, to their
male counterparts.
According to her, effort should
be made to introduce young girls to career opportunities in technical ?elds in
both the public and private sectors to help them have a wider range of options
and contribute their quota in the industry and in the development of the
economy.
She said: “We need to equip the
girls with transferable and lifelong skills such as critical thinking,
creativity and digital awareness. Having role models will also be critical,
especially in the sciences and other fields where the presence of women is
sparse.”
This year’s event will feature
different competitions among female students from widely selected private and
public secondary schools. These include STEM Quiz and Video Logging
Competitions. Other features of the day will include Student’s Roundtable
Discussion; interactive and motivational talk from renowned women ICT
professionals, including media tech influencer, MissTechy; and general students’
quiz competition, among others. Awards and gift prizes will be given to winning
schools and students of the Quiz and Tech competitions. Also Awards will be
given to deserving women that have exemplified themselves in the ICT industry.
The International Girls in ICT
Day is an initiative launched through ITU Resolution 70 with the idea of
creating a global environment that will empower and encourage girls and young
women to consider careers in the ?eld of information and communication
technologies. The Union declared the 4th (fourth) Thursday in April every year
as a day to highlight the annual campaign to encourage girls and young women to
consider careers in ICT, and society is reminded to support them in their
choice.
At the end of the event, it is
expected that the young girls should be able to introspect and pursue any
desired career path in ICT, technical or not, without bias, or being gender
conscious.
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