​Youth Initiative for Sustainable Human Development in Africa​

Abuja, Nigeria, 2014, May 27

As part of ways to encourage more girls access the opportunities the ICT industry has to offer, Youth Initiative for Sustainable Human Development in Africa (YiSHDA) successfully implemented the 2014 International Girls in ICT Day with the theme: "Promoting Girls' Participation in ICT".  To commemorate the day, YiSHDA implemented the following events:

First a one-day ICT training for girls where the training brought together 30 girls from 3 Science secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The training was centered on "How to build a Blog site with WordPress". The training was held on May 27, 2014. The WordPress training was aimed at introducing the girls into the WordPress world and showing them simple steps of building a website. The idea was to also make the girls become better website designers and raise awareness on how they can earn an income from blogging.

The facilitator for the ICT training was Mrs. Damilola Olawale a professional Project and IT Manager as well as an Educational Programme Advisor. She is also an inspiring and motivational performer, leader and founder of Sprout Consulting, an ICT 4 Development consulting firm with special interest in ICT4Eductaion.

Also, the Director of the FCT Agency for Science and Technology (FAST), Mrs. Rosemary Umana in her inspiring and motivational speech encouraged the girls to apply ICT not just for fun but to their academic and career pursuit.

Secondly, an open-day event took place on May 28th 2014 bringing together 250 Girls from 5 Science secondary schools in the FCT. The idea was to create a conducive environment where girls can relax, be inspired and encouraged to use ICT and build their career in the ICT field. The open-day event also brought together facilitators from various educational and ICT institutes.

The President/CEO of YiSHDA, Joseph Emmanuel Yaba also reinstated the commitment of YiSHDA to continue to inspire and educate young people by building their capacity, leadership and responsibility skills and that YiSHDA believes that can be achieved through the use of ICT.

Mr. John Adamu, Chairman, Board of Trustee of YiSHDA said that empowering girls and young women to fulfill their potential through ICT would benefit the entire society and the economy.

Mrs Fatima Baba-Ari, Director, FCT Secondary Education Board (SEB), said that one of the most effective ways of helping the girl-child overcome her plight was through education, and that technological advancement of life coupled with the most comprehensive education was embedded in ICT.

It is a common saying that, no nation can grow beyond the education of its people. Women folk are more in number than their men folk in any society, it is therefore, obvious that the training of the girl-child toward ICT is of paramount. The girls are also challenged with the mind set to be focused in setting benchmark standards in ICT.

Sponsors: FCT Agency for Science and Technology (FAST), Junior Achievement Nigeria, Sprout Consulting, Connoisseur Consults, IEVAWC, World Bank Youth Forum​​​​​​