Phase3 Telecom Intensifies Support for Girl-Child ICT Education, Skills

Reiterating its commitment to active engagement of girls in the ICT space; Phase3 Telecom is once again partnering with eBusiness Life Communications to bring awareness to engendering ICT knowledge and skills as well as closing its current vast gap in the career build-up of the girl child.

This development which is in honour of the 2016 International Girls in ICT Day global celebrations will mark the second collaboration between the West African aerial fibre infrastructure giant and eBusiness Life on sustaining global awareness of the imperativeness of early ICT education and consistent training of girls to advancing technological innovation, eradicating poverty and boosting the role of the female gender in global development efforts.

It is notable that in West Africa, women are significantly under-represented across the board in ICT sector – from education and training programs right through to high level careers both in the academia or industry.

The Girls in ICT initiative of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is a global effort to raise awareness on empowering and encouraging girls and young women to consider studies and careers in ICTs. To date over 177,000 girls and young women have taken a part in more than 5,300 events held in 150 countries worldwide.

According to Mr Stanley Jegede, chief executive officer of Phase3 Telecom, championing great initiatives that open women and girls to great technological possibilities is not only key to Africa’s sustained development but are morally just platforms to ensuring that the girl child harnesses the right opportunities aimed at empowerment and growth. And Phase3 will continue to support/drive programs that encourage girls and young adult females to pull careers that will grow the IT/STEM sector and transform the world positively.

He said, “to also eradicate poverty and solidify the role of women in nation building; the sustained representation of women in the world of technology is very key especially when they are encouraged early to see the advantages and dividends of the dynamic and fast-evolving-sector””. Thus; maintaining that is basis for Phase3 Telecom’s commitment to continue to support the International Girls in ICT day initiative while commending eBusiness Life consistent commitment to the initiative annually to mentor and support girls who have keen interest in walking the ICT career path whether in engineering, design, operations or research.

Notably, Mrs. Ufuoma Emuophedaro, managing director of eBusiness Life Communication, in recent online news remarked that “studies have shown that there are few women choosing careers in ICT, hence the need to expand the local technology talent pool to include more women citing that ICT creators often offer higher salaries and lower gender-based pay gaps than in other fields.

She affirmed that “Girls in ICT Day events make girls and young women aware of the vast possibilities ICTs offer, quelling misconceptions about the sector and inviting them to envision their future as ICT creators”.