Connect with us

News

ITU, UN Women to Recognize Work in Tech for Gender Equality

Published

on

Kindly share this post

ITU and UN Women are partnering to launch a new global technology award that recognizes outstanding contributions from women and men in leveraging the potential of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to promote gender equality.

The annual GEM-TECH Awards will be conferred on seven winners from government, the private sector, academia and civil society at ITU’s Plenipotentiary Conference, which will be held in Busan, Korea from October  20-  November 7.

Winners will travel to Busan to accept their award and join a global celebration on October 21 promoting the power of ICTs to transform lives.

Online nominations are open until 11:59 CET on 5 September, 2014 at www.itu.int/gem-tech-awards, with winners to be notified by  October 5.

ITU encourages men and women working in the ICT sector to nominate their colleagues – or themselves – with the final seven winners to be selected by a committee of experts from ITU and UN Women.

The awards will be presented by Dr Hamadoun I. Touré, ITU secretary-general and Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Women executive director as part of a day-long programme of activities around gender issues.

The initiative comes in the wake of the disclosure of ‘diversity’ figures by major tech companies, including Google, Facebook, Yahoo and Linked In, which reveal that, across the board, the number of women in tech jobs is well under 20%, with the percentage of women in leadership roles not much better – reflecting a global lack of women coming into the ICT field.

“ICTs are the most powerful tool we have ever had to make a difference to the lives of today’s and tomorrow’s women, and to build a more equitable world for all,” said Touré.

“This new award will provide much deserved global recognition for some of the many outstanding gender champions – both female and male – who are driving exciting, innovative and effective ICT and gender initiatives.”

The 2015 GEM-TECH awards have been launched in the context of commemorations for the 20-year anniversary of the UN Beijing Platform for Action, which emphasized the importance of ICTs for women’s empowerment and the achievement of gender equality.

The awards are one of the first results of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ITU and UN Women that provides for increased cooperation between the two UN agencies in areas including improving women’s access to, and engagement with, ICTs; enhancing women’s involvement in ICT policy-making; and promoting the power of ICTs in future UN priority action areas, including the post-2015 framework for sustainable development.

“ICTs can and should be a game-changer for girls and women around the world, providing them with avenues for empowerment and for exercising their rights,” said  Mlambo-Ngcuka.

“We must be deliberate in making this happen and these awards celebrate those that are leading this charge.”

ITU is already active in the field of gender and technology, particularly through its global ‘Girls in ICT Day’ event, which takes place annually on the fourth Thursday in April, raising awareness of the advantages and opportunities offered by tech careers to a new generation of girls and young women. Prominent actor and advocate Geena Davis serves as ITU Special Envoy on Women and Girls in ICT.

ITU estimates a global skills shortfall of over two million ICT jobs in the coming ten years.  With digital technologies now pervading every business sector, girls and young women who learn coding, apps development and computer science will have a significant advantage over their non-tech-trained peers, regardless of the field they eventually choose to work in. 

“Empowering girls and young women to fulfil their potential through ICTs will benefit not only young women and girls themselves, but entire societies and their economies,” said ITU’s Dr Touré.

UN Women, the lead UN agency on gender equality and women’s empowerment is pursuing ICTs as a critical cross-cutting issue across all areas of its work.

 In the tech field, results can already be seen in combatting violence against women through mobile apps that map unsafe spaces; providing improved access to employment, markets and financing through digital literacy and ICT skills development, information systems and online banking; promoting knowledge and training opportunities through the Knowledge Gateway on Women’s Economic Empowerment; and increasing women’s political participation and advocacy for through social media mobilization. 


Kindly share this post

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

News

SoftTalk Messenger Introduces Chat and Make Calls without Sharing your Phone Number

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Sharing your phone number on chatting platforms can expose you to unwanted spam, potential security breaches, and even compromise your identity.

Simple Azenabor, CEO, SoftTalk Messenger, a Nigerian developer based in Japan, said: “Anyone in an individual or a group chat can see your phone number. But don’t worry, you can use SoftTalk Messenger that doesn’t require a phone number.

“It gives you the best of both worlds, the freedom to communicate with anyone and everyone, and the security of keeping your phone number private”.

SoftTalk Messenger allows you to connect effortlessly with your friends, school mates, and family by using your @username, eliminating the need to share your phone numbers. This feature provides privacy for your phone number, particularly in group chats.

To add friends you simply search by their Unique SoftTalk @USERNAMES or Names to start a conversation and make encrypted HD audio and video calls.

It is possible for a user to turn off and on his profile from  the SoftTalk directory if he prefers not to be discovered in a public search for a complete world of his own. Helping you to communicate with friends safely and privately

SoftTalk Messenger is a Nigeria’s Messaging app for Africans & the world. It enables users to buy and sell products and services in a marketplace, post stories, chat, make audio / video calls as well as pay utilities bills & buy low cost data & prepaid mobile airtime in Nigeria with plans to expand to other African countries in the near future. Users can make extra income by reselling Data and airtime to their friends right from within the app.

Messages are encrypted and transferred over a secure channel and use standard encryption algorithms: RSA-2048, RC4+ making sure that only the receiver of the message is able to read it. SoftTalk Messenger accommodates a total of 500,000 participants in a single group, and members can share media and large files.

According to Simple Azenabor, there is no doubt that Nigerians and indeed Africans are hungry for a new technology and need something different that can be called our “own” . It is my wish to see Nigerians use and encourage an indigenous solution built by one of us to grow our own.

The android version of the app was first introduced to Nigerians in late 2018 in the presence of the delegates from the NCC officials and the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Raufu Mohammed represented by a Director General in the ministry. SoftTalk Messenger has been bootstrapping and exploring various technologies in order to strengthen its backend infrastructure to build a secure and scalable system.

Today, SoftTalk Messenger  is available on both android, web and the Apple iOS platforms with support of about 16 languages including French and can be downloaded on google and apple stores.

 


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

News

Bankers, Officials Colluding to Re-loot Recovered Abacha’s Fund-  EFCC

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has alleged collusion between commercial banks and government officials to re-loot recovered funds from Sani Abacha, late dictator.

Bankers, Officials Colluding to Re-loot Recovered Abacha’s Fund-  EFCC

Sani Abacha

The $322 million Abacha loot, recovered in December 2017 and earmarked for Conditional Cash Transfer under the Social Investment Programme, was intended to provide monthly stipends to vulnerable Nigerians.

However, Dele Oyewale, spokesperson for the EFCC, disclosed that investigations have uncovered financial malpractices involving COVID-19 funds and World Bank-assisted loans coordinated by the Humanitarian Ministry. Several interdicted and suspended officials of the ministry have been linked to the alleged malfeasance, with N32.7 billion and $445,000 recovered from them.

Managing directors of implicated banks have provided statements, and investigations are ongoing, with former minister Sadiya Umar-Farouq and her successor, Beta Edu, summoned for questioning.

The EFCC stressed that the probe targets a systemic issue rather than individuals, signaling a crackdown on corruption within Nigeria’s financial sector and government agencies.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

News

FITC to Redefine HR with AI, Digitisation for Organisational Sustainability

Published

on

Kindly share this post

The eagerly anticipated E3 Conference, hosted by FITC, is back for its fourth edition, poised to set new benchmarks in the realm of employee engagement and organizational sustainability.

Themed, “Redefining HR Through AI & Digital Transformation for Organizational Sustainability,” the conference is scheduled to take place on April 17th and 18th.

In a statement, FITC says the E3 Conference stands as a beacon of innovation, bringing together thought leaders, industry experts, policymakers, and professionals from across Africa and beyond.

It explained that in today’s fast-paced landscape, technology such as AI and automation is reshaping the dynamics of human resource management.

“The E3 Conference is dedicated to unravelling the potential of these advancements, focusing on topics ranging from talent mobility to the latest trends in managing talent. It’s a journey towards understanding and embracing these transformative shifts, ensuring that businesses are primed for the future of HR.

“With a stellar lineup of over 24 speakers, including C-suite Executives, Subject Matter Experts, and Thought Leaders from various sectors, the conference promises to deliver insights that transcend conventional boundaries. Attendees can expect deep dives into strategies for enhancing productivity, streamlining processes, and maximizing global talent mobility through AI and automation, “it stated.

“Keynote speakers such as Evi Ifekwe, Executive Director of People & Country Services at TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited, and Wale-Smatt Oyerinde, Director-General of NECA, alongside a faculty lineup comprising industry stalwarts, will spearhead discussions on critical issues shaping the future of work.

The two-day hybrid event will feature four plenary sessions and two master classes, providing attendees with ample opportunities for networking, knowledge exchange, and interactive engagement.

Participants will delve into topics such as the impact of AI on the future of work, data-driven performance management, and strategic implementation of AI in HR.

The conference is expected to provide insights into cutting-edge strategies for professionals and HR leaders who will gain invaluable insights from industry pioneers on leveraging AI and digital transformation to drive organizational sustainability and employee engagement, “it stated.

“As organisations worldwide grapple with the complexities of the new normal, the E3 Conference serves as a beacon of hope and enlightenment, offering practical solutions and visionary insights to navigate the challenges ahead, ” the company said.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Trending