Nigerian Women in Information Technology

Women in ICT blog has learnt that the Nigerian Women in Information Technology (NIWIT) is a new interest group of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS). The motto of NIWIT is "Advancing the use of Information Technology amongst women".  


1. INTRODUCTION:
 NIWIT is a new Interest Group in NCS like ITAN, ISPON, ISPAN, etc. Women in ICT blog was informed that membership is open to female members of NCS, CPN and any woman involved in IT. Since NCS requires every registered member to belong to an interest group, Women in ICT blog observes that is now an option for all women in the IT industry.

Launch of NIWIT at NCS Conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State

2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
(1) Foster unity among Nigerian women in the IT industry through networking.
(2) To maintain and defend the integrity and right of women in the IT industry.
(3) To promote professionalism, capacity building and good relationship among members through mentoring  (4) To maintain the highest standard of ethics, conduct, virtue, etiquette and discipline among women in the IT industry.
(5) To engage in any activity and ventures which will promote NIWIIT as well as the welfare of members? (6) To create a platform by which women in IT can collaborate with other women in other professions in Nigeria and elsewhere.
(7) To develop and train members of the NIWIIT through workshops and capacity building programs.
(8) To create awareness programs for IT related services and products among women in the rural and sub-urban areas in Nigeria, special target groups and students in secondary schools and tertiary institutions (9) To encourage more female participation in the IT profession.  

3. MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES
(1) Professional
(2) Non-Professional
(3) Student
(4) Corporate  

For further information on NIWIT, please contact:
1. Mrs. Owolabi - 08034023651
2. Mrs. Elusoji - 08033046122
3. Mrs. Archibong - 08065546988
4. Mrs. Faluyi - 08033933461
5. Mrs. Orji - 08033350916
6. Mrs. Ayodele - 08069804373  

Secretariat:
Nigerian Women in Information Technology (NIWIIT)
C/o Nigeria Computer Society (NCS)
Plot 10, Otunba Jobi Fele Way, Alausa, Ikeja
P.M.B 4800 Surulere, Lagos.

Email: ncsniwiit@gmail.com or info@niwiit.org

The reality of IT and Women

March 8, 2012 is another Women's day. What is the reality regarding the empowerment of women as Information Technology (IT) users, professionals or entrepreneurs? We are thankful for the women that have made great strides but what really is the overall picture of women within the IT sector?

Are women using IT to learn, connect and improve their work and businesses? There has certainly been growth in terms of usage by women, especially in usage of cell phones, laptops, internet, ATMs, online social networks and the acquisition of basic computing skills. But is this the reality in rural communities? 

The IT usage trend is really restricted to women in the urban areas, in particular those in the formal sector, the educated and the rich. The majorities in the urban poor (women and men) are still largely excluded and are not fully using technology to improve themselves or contribute meaningfully. And in fact most people living in the rural areas, especially women, live in a different world, where IT does not exist. The bitter reality is that excluded groups however constitute the majority in the populace.

Beyond usage, what is the truth of women in the IT sector?

This is the sector that drives innovation? How many women are IT entrepreneurs or professionals? Even though there is relatively improved participation of women in Nigeria’s IT sector; growth has been however an urban experience. How many women run businesses that provide IT and IT enabled products and services compared to men? 

Very few women are IT entrepreneurs. Visit most IT firms and you find most women work in customer service, admin, marketing, clerical, data entry positions while only a few work in core technical areas of programming, networking, web development, database management, etc. Please note that there are exceptions; I’m painting an overall picture. There are great women making impact in IT but women are largely underrepresented in this sector. The overall state of affairs regarding women in IT is far from what it should be.

Progress in IT without Women?

Women are simply not visible enough in the core, creative and critical areas of IT. If Nigeria is to grow as a nation and become globally competitive, IT must be strategically deployed for development. 

• We cannot be serious about IT for development if we depend on foreign IT expertise. 
• We cannot be serious about IT for development if we are not building local human capital required in this age of innovation and technological change. 
• In view of the strategic role of entrepreneurship and innovation Nigeria must have sufficient numbers of people with IT expertise. 

Seriously, can we fulfill our potentials in IT if 50 percent of the potential workforce is ignored and excluded? Seriously?

Join the Women in ICT blog in celebrating the achievements of women in IT. And let's keep pushing. There is still a lot of work to be done.

The Empowerment of Women with ICTs

What is the future without the empowerment of women with information and communications technologies (ICTs)? Jidaw created the Women in ICT Blog to sensitize the public and create awareness on policies, practices and action required to advance and empower women and promote gender equality with ICTs. 

The recognition of women falls within the underlying concern of gender inequality. Genders are not the same, but do women have equal opportunities and access to resources? The gender equality focus is often on the position and issues of women because women deserve not just better treatment but equality. Gender imbalances with regard to access to important rights, opportunities and resources generally have a more negative impact on women and girls than men and boys.

So while the Women in ICT Blog is a resource for the celebration of the positives (women who have achieved); it is also for highlighting the negatives and the work that still needs to be done. 

We all need equality in how we are treated and equality in access to opportunities. Gender inequality is real – do women have the same opportunities to develop their capacities and talents? Are legal, marketing, customer care, catering, secretarial, entertainment, fashion and modeling the only career areas where women can excel? And we also need to take off our urban glasses - most women in Nigeria live in rural areas. Are girls and women in the rural communities really living their dreams? Or aren’t they allowed to dream?

All women have the right to participate fully in society – the right to work, vote, be educated, to seek political office, to contribute to society, to live their dreams. But Stone Age stereotyping, discrimination and inequalities limit the contributions of women. And in the patriarchal, male centred society, women are victims of rape, harmful practices and other forms of inhuman gender related violence.

Celebrating the Contributions of Women

Considering the challenges women have to face to live their dreams and realize their potentials in a male dominated world, we have no option but to recognize, respect, commend and celebrate the contributions of women.

Over the years, there have been significant changes and improvements regarding gender equality in society. All around the globe, more interest is being shown in the role of women in society. Visibility has improved in critical sectors. The number of women having real choices, outside the prisons of stereotype, has increased. Battles have been won, and women’s issues are being brought to the forefront. Though we must acknowledge the gains, the overall picture is a mixed bag and experiences differ from country to country. Some have made more progress than others. The truth however is that for many, gender equality is still a distant dream. Women are still not present in equal numbers in critical areas of business, education, technology and politics. And we must question our humanity because violence against women is still a troubling reality.

The Women in ICT Blog aims to remind the world of these issues, raise awareness, highlight the concerns and struggles of women and celebrate women who have achieved despite the odds. How should we ensure that gains are maintained, more barriers are broken and new frontiers are established in all aspects of life?

The gender equality challenge is about humanity and development. There is a direct relationship between the empowerment of women and reduction of poverty. If women can’t improve themselves, who suffers? How seriously do we want to address the problems of poverty, maternal and child mortality and illiteracy if women aren’t empowered? The promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women is in the best interest of everyone. For a better world, girls and women need support, opportunities and access to resources to develop their capabilities, talents and live their dreams. It’s about fulfilling their potentials to improve themselves and their communities. Exclusion and discrimination wastes the important contributions of women.

The bottom-line is that with support women can go very far. What value does society place on women? Hewers of wood or positive change agents? We must reject the iniquitous and seriously flawed socially constructed roles, behaviour and expectations of women and men. There are no sub-humans. You are either human or you’re not. Human beings are women and men. Not half men and men.

The Future Generation

For a better world, women need to shine without limits. The world needs their knowledge, ideas, strengths, presence, stories and experience in all areas. And women must be able to shape their own future. You see until women are full citizens and actors in social, economic, political and technological fields societies can’t benefit from their capabilities. It is a local, national and global concern (for equality, self discovery and sustainability). The empowerment of women is not a luxury but a necessity for a sustainable world. Global recognition and celebration of women is based on the realization that the empowerment of women is a condition for a better today and a REAL future of hope. It isn’t just about today. What about young girls and boys? The future generation?

Technology is the infrastructure of today’s world. It is a powerful tool that affects our future; it can’t be ignored in the quest for empowerment. Can we really talk about the advancement of women and gender equality in the absence of technology? Who are we kidding?

Jide Awe

Founder, Jidaw.com
Master Computers
Nigeria Computers

UN Women Gender Specialist Job Nigeria

UN WOMEN
United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women Job vacancy for Gender Specialist in Abuja, Nigeria

UN Women in collaboration with the UN Resident Coordinator Unit seeks to achieve increased accountability for gender equality results within the UN system in Nigeria.

The Need

Women in ICT Blog notes that Gender inequalities impede development and productivity. Without gender equality and the empowerment of women, development is not possible.Gender equality and Women Empowerment, one of the eight Millennium Development Goals is central to the achievement of the MDGs. The leadership of the UNCT therefore needs to effectively coordinate the gender response of all agencies in a coherent manner in order to meet desired expectations. Women in ICT Blog notes that the announcement states that analysis and harmonization for prioritization of gender equality in the development agenda is required "as currently, harmonization mechanisms on gender equality, joint analytical work and pooling of resources for gender equality as well as regular monitoring and evaluation are fragmented within the UN System in Nigeria.

The purpose of this assignment is to promote accelerated achievement of accountability for gender equality results within the UN System in Nigeria".

EXTERNAL VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

The United Nations System in Nigeria Consultancy vacancy.


Post Title:         Gender Specialist
Level of Post:        NOC
Type of Contract    Individual contract (IC)
Location:        Abuja.
Number of positions:    1
Duration:        30 Working Days

Application Deadline: June 8, 2011

Women in ICT Blog observes that the Consultant will work under the supervision of the UN Women, and in close co-operation with the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator. For further details on the job description and application process, please visit UNDPs corporate job site on this link Here

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

The United Nations System in Nigeria is an equal opportunity employer.

Women in ICT Blog encourages Qualified women to apply.

Empower Women, Create the Future Breaks New Ground

Jidaw Systems (Jidaw) celebrated 100 years of International Women’s Day in 2011 through a special session on the Advancement and Empowerment of Women through ICTs during its March 2011 FREE IT Career Seminar. Empower Women, Create the Future

The Empower Women, Create the Future Session proved to be revealing and exciting at Jidaw's FREE IT Career Seminar on Saturday, March 12, 2011. Miss Nosa Onaiwu of Jidaw Systems delivered the lead presentation during the session. The presentation celebrated Women in general for their contribution to humanity while acknowledging that a sustainable world is dependent on the empowerment of women.

Nosa Onaiwu delivering her presentation

Advancement and Empowerment of women with ICTs

Jidaw Systems has chosen to use Information and Communications Technology (ICT) as a tool, a weapon of positive change. And Jidaw also pursues this agenda in the area of empowermenmt of women. As a force for change, Jidaw promotes and supports efforts that will lead to the advancement and empowerment of women with ICTs. On the 100th anniversary of Women's Day, the seminar provided an opportunity to spread awareness on this important issues of gender equality and the empowerment of women.

The advancement and empowerment of women with ICTs was therefore the focus of the presentation delivered by Nosa Onaiwu. The presentation celebrated Women who had achieved in the IT world - their names and achievements were mentioned - Mrs Florence Seriki (Founder, Omatek Computers), Professor Nike Osofisan (Former President, Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN)), Mrs Jibike Itegboje (Forner Director MIS, Yaba Collebge of Technology), Mrs Ibukun Odusote (Permanent Secretary, Fderal Government of Nigeria) and many others.

All male participants at the seminar Standing up for Women as a mark of respect for women to honour the efforts and contributions of women

Also celebrated were female Jidaw Alumni, students who had made significant impact in ICT: Fadele Ifeoluwa Oluwatobiloba Winner of the 2010 IT Professionalism Award, Ruth Anok , Mrs Funmilola Omojola and Ajayi Dolapo Anuoluwa made the perfect score of 1,000 in the globally recognized CCNA exams.

There is still work to be done

While we appreciate the achievement of these amazons, a lot still needs to be done as a significant number of women are not using ICT to empower themselves. And fewer women are working in the high value areas of ICT because ICT has been given the mistaken identity of a "male" profession. The presentation ended with a call for specific measures to be taken to promote and encourage the advancement and empowerment of women with ICTs. Participants were advised to spread the word and do what they can in their own lives and careers to drive this positive change in society - because "Everyday is Women's Day".

Women in ICT who attended the Free IT Career Seminar

 more information is provided on this link:

Women in ICT Content and Resources

Celebrating Women's Day in 2011

Jidaw Systems will be marking Women's day in 2011 by including a special session on the advancement and empowerment of women through ICTs in its upcoming FREE IT Career Seminar.

Fadele Ifeoluwa Winner of 2010 IT Professionalism Award representing Women in ICT

The FREE IT Career Seminar on March 12, 2011 will be marking 100 years of International Women’s Day in 2011 through a special session on the Advancement and Empowerment of Women through ICTs -Empower Women, Create the Future

More Power to Women!!!