National ICT e-Contest for Girls

 

National ICT e-Contest for Girls

 

Women in Technology in Nigeria (WITN) is organizing the National ICT e-Contest for Girls /Awareness The competition geared towards highlighting the opportunities for women and girls in ICT opened on
International Girls in ICT Day- April 26th, 2012 and closes on August 31st 2012. 

The contest is supported and endorsed by Nigeria computer Society (NCS), Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), International Centre for Communication Studies and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). Areas to covered include Essay on ICT, Graphics design/Painting, Comics/Animation, Web Development, Mobile Applications and Games Development.

International Girls in ICT Day
ITU encourages everyone (individuals, schools, teachers, corporate firms, government agencies and institutions) to mark the International Girls in ICT Day celebrated annually on each fourth Thursday in April, by presenting opportunities for girls to learn and get involved in opportunities for education and work in the ICT sector.  This year’s Girls ICT Day was celebrated on April 26, 2012. The contest’s aim is to provide girls with in-depth knowledge of career fields. In doing this girls will be motivated choose technology careers for achieving their dreams, fulfilling their potentials and contributing to their communities. ITU states that International Girls' Day is an initiative designed to create a global environment that will empower and encourage girls and young women to consider careers in the field of information and communication technologies.

Already pilot projects and campaigns have been launched in a number of countries for about 20 years, with the aim to change girls' and young women's behavior patterns with regard to their choice of career and to expand their spectrum of career options.



The Contest

WITIN has therefore developed the e-contest for girls as an avenue to make ICT an attractive career option for girls and to change and challenge stereotypes limiting the impact of women and girls in ICT. In particular In particular, WITN intends to sensitize schools and parents on the need to encourage girls to pursue careers in ICT. The contest is also designed through the assignments to expose young girls to the diversity of growth and lifetime fulfillment opportunities within the ICT sector.

The contest is for young girls between ages 11 - 20 years in Nigerian Secondary schools. Prizes will be won by the Participating students and schools.

Contest Co-ordinators are: Tim Akinbo (Timba Objects), Femi Bello (ASV IT Solution), Nnenna Nwakanma (Nnenna.org), Nkemdilim Uwaje(Future Soft), Ore Somolu (Women's Technology Empowerment Centre) and Martha Omoekpen Alade (WITIN).  
The panel of judges are: Prof Adenike Osofisan (University of Ibadan), Prof Stella Chiemeke(University of Benin), Dr Virgy Ejiofor (Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka), Dr Sylvanus Ehikioya (NCC Abuja), Oni Omogbadegun (Covenant University), Jide Awe (Jidaw Systems), Gbenga Sesan (Paradigm Initiative Nigeria).

The mission of WITN is “Using ICT to promote socio-economic empowerment of women and address equity issues with regard to gender, disadvantaged groups as well as those in rural and under-served communities”.

Interested students, parents, teachers and schools should find out more here: Girls in ICT Contest Nigeria