Jidaw Systems in conjunction with the African Information Security Association (AISA) will hold a special session on the empowerment of women with ICTs during the May 19, 2012, FREE IT Career Seminar to mark the 2012 World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD). The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has announced “Women and Girls in ICT” as the theme of the 2012 WTISD.
Every year on May 17, WTISD ITU highlights issues that are important to ensuring that the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICT) are deployed and used to drive development and make significant impact in closing the digital divide. In recent years themes have ranged from Child Online protection, Better life with ICTs in cities, Better Life with ICTs for rural development. This year ITU invites everyone to raise issues involved in the impact and progressive development of women in ICT.
Women and Girls in ICT” session
Jidaw’s special “Women and Girls in ICT” session will celebrate the achievements of women in ICT, inform and encourage women and men about the impact women have in ICT and will promote the advancement and empowerment of women through ICTs. Jidaw further intends to employ the special session as a means of sensitizing the public and raising public awareness on policies, practices and action required to advance and empower women and promote gender equality with ICTs.
In addition, ITU encourages that the international “Girls in ICT Day” should be marked every year on the fourth Thursday of April. This year the “Girls in ICT Day” will be held on 26 April 2012. ITU states that members should “ host events where girls and young women are invited to ICT companies and government agencies to appreciate the opportunities the ICT sector holds for their future”.
Advancement and Empowerment of women in ICT
In line with this theme, Jidaw’s blog on the advancement and empowerment of women in ICT, the Women in ICT Blog advocates the promotion of ICT opportunities for women and girls through practical actions and the adoption of strategies and policies geared towards closing the gender digital gap. Already the Women in ICT Blog promotes women in ICT efforts through the regular provision of content promoting the advancement and empowerment of women through ICTs. As part of its ICT4D advocacy efforts, the Women in ICT Blog will work with other stakeholders in ICT to mark May 17, 2012.
Women play an important role in society but without full involvement and participation in ICT, are they living to their full potentials? Can there be real development in society if inequalities exist and persist even in areas that drive significant change such as ICT? What can be done to ensure that our communities and societies benefit fully from the ideas, strengths and energies of women and girls through ICT?
Empower women and create the future
Empowering girls and women to live their dreams enables them to use their talents and skills to contribute and meet the needs of society. ICT is a powerful tool that must be harnessed for this purpose. Jidaw joins the ITU in insisting that at all levels ICTs should be deployed “to provide new digital opportunities to end discrimination and empower the female half of the world’s population to achieve their rightful place as equals in the world”.
Through the Women in ICT Blog, Jidaw continually encourages more girls and women to invest in ICT and build professional careers in the ICT sector in significant numbers through IT career talks, awareness campaigns, stakeholder forums, mentoring programs, career initiatives, funding/scholarship programs and policies. Jidaw in addition advocates for meaningful, well thought through, pro-people strategies and policies that facilitate the increased participation at the highest level in policy making and decision making in ICT.
Let’s use the 2012 WTISD to highlight digital opportunities, expand horizons and change our attitudes on Women and Girls in ICT. This theme should influence our work not only on WTISD but throughout the year and in the future as well. Empower women and create the future.
Contact Jidaw
Address: 12 Eric Moore Street, Wemabod Estate, Off Adeniyi Jones Ave, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
Tel: 08052647395, 01-7940562, 01-8958064, 07052509148, 08035007778
E-mail: training@jidaw.com
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