Empowering Women & Girls Through ICT

The mental and physical contact of women with life is much more lasting and comprehensive than that of men

The women with their God given feminine attributes may find it easier to curb bribery and corruption which has become endemic in our system, especially when women in authority are always seen as “No Nonsense women”.

Based on this, education among women should no longer be handled with levity.

That education must be rounded with all the necessary ingredients for nation building.

That is where ICT education comes in, ICT is increasingly used across the continent to empower women.

It can be a very powerful force when it is used for good purposes as much as it can for bad.

In Nigeria, the federal ministry of Communications Technology has realized the potential power that ICT can offer.

It is now encouraging the use of ICT in education and especially striving to increase the participation of girls, the disadvantaged and women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The “SmartWoman Nigeria” is one such latent tool and it aims to encourage female participation and skills development in ICT.

The “SmartWoman Nigeria” initiative is in collaboration with US-based social enterprise, ChangeCorp and WIMBIZ to empower Nigerian women and girls in ICT.

“Smart Woman Nigeria” is targeted at low- to middle-income urban and high-income rural women business owners to help them harness the power of mobile communication tools provided by ICTs in the areas of communication, banking, finance, health, and family work/life balance issues.

Featured at the first meeting of the Broadband Commission for Digital Development Working Group on Gender in Mexico City, the SmartWoman initiative was developed by US based social enterprise, ChangeCorp.

We commend Omobola Johnson, minister of Communication Technology for her efforts at removing gender imbalance in ICT adoption and appropriation.

The contributions of Women in Technology in Nigeria (WITIN) and Women Empowerment Centre (WTEC) two recognized NGOs are also acknowledged.

We also agree that ICTs have the transforming power to accelerate the development of women by helping them to be more efficient and effective in their jobs, careers, and businesses and to generate new employment opportunities.

But it is important to note that money is essential for ICT usage in a country.

That means that well meaning organizations and individuals must support this initiative to increase access to the internet and owning a mobile phone.

With the necessary support from every corner, we enjoin the ministry of Communications Technology to take the “SmartWoman Nigeria” project to all secondary schools in Nigeria.

The goal is to ensure more girls embrace and adopt careers in ICTs.