Girls In ICT Day 2016: Emuophedaro urges support for girls

ITRealms:

The Convener of the eBusiness Life International Girls in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Day Celebration, Mrs Ufuoma Emuophedaro has urged stakeholders to support the forthcoming event to be held in Lagos, on April 28, 2016, reports ITRealms.

The one-day event is part of a global campaign initiated by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to encourage young girls and women to pursue careers in ICT.

According to Mrs Emuophedaro, studies have shown that there are few women choosing careers in ICT, hence the need to expand the local technology talent pool to include more women.

She called on other stakeholders to join hands with her organization to further invest in girls and young women by supporting the Girls in ICT campaign and empowering them, giving them the confidence to pursue ICT studies and careers.

Also, she noted that jobs as ICT creators often offer higher salaries and lower gender-based pay gaps than in other fields.

“Girls in ICT Day events make girls and young women aware of the vast possibilities ICTs offer, quelling misconceptions about the sector and inviting them to envision their future as ICT creators,” she said.

This year, the event would comprise App development and quiz competitions between female students from selected secondary schools; round-table discussions; interactive and motivational talk from renowned women ICT professionals, among others.

The ITU, in initiating the campaign had noted that encouraging women and girls to pursue ICT careers also fosters a more dynamic technology sector, posing extensive benefits for companies.

“It states that a more gender-balanced workforce reflects the customer base more accurately, enhances productivity and innovation and leads to better financial results of any company,” ITU said, stressing that ICTs drive growth and innovation worldwide, infiltrating all aspects of life.

In addition, ITU noted that ongoing advances in ICTs effectively make digital literacy a prerequisite for employment and entrepreneurship opportunities and are leading to a projected shortage of at least 2 million ICT employees worldwide by 2020.

As more companies partner with eBusiness Life to ensure the success of this year’s event, the Marketing Manager, Vodacom Business Nigeria, Anne Ihugba says the company concerns itself about the future and welfare of the young girls. “It is not about us, or the companies participating, we want to make sure the children get the best”.

Ihugba further implore other corporate organisations to join hands and make a success out of the children.

“Partners should be committed. It is a platform for competition,” she said.

Uj.N. Dominic/ED. OPs
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