| Event Information |
Women's Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC)5/10/2017Africa, Nigeria, Lagos, NigeriaWomen's Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC): 2017 Girls in ICT Day Celebration International Girls in ICT Day is an initiative backed by all ITU Members which aims to create a global environment that empowers and encourages girls and young women to consider careers in the growing field of ICTs, enabling both girls and technology companies to reap the benefits of greater female participation in the ICT sector. The Women's Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC) celebrated the International Girls in ICT Day on the 10th of May, 2017 in 5 Public secondary schools in Lagos, Nigeria with a total of 110 W.TEC Academy girls/students . W.TEC Academy is an after-school technology training scheme for female students in secondary schools in Lagos, Nigeria. It is an initiative that aims to inspire Nigerian girls in secondary schools discover an early interest in technology and consider technology-related educational opportunities and careers. Since 2014, W.TEC Academy have trained and impacted richly in a good nos of girls in different secondary schools in Lagos, Nigeria and is currently working with 110 girls in 5 schools within Ikoyi-Lagos Island area of Lagos state. The W.TEC Girls in ICT Day celebration was a huge success. It was celebrated with these students in 3 phases concurrently: 1. ICT Career Awareness: This session held in the 5 participating schools Computer Laboratories. At the different schools, facilitators and/ invited speakers kept the students aware of the girls in ICT Day and encouraged them to pursue careers in ICT in the nearest future as well as show them audio-visual videos and success stories of women in the ICT field and young girls like them who are already doing amazing things in the technology sphere- this will further help to inspire and encourage the girls to aim higher, embrace, as well as take up careers in Technology field. 2. Hackathon: This segment of the day's celebration held at Ilado Community Junior Secondary School, Osborne Road Ikoyi. Lagos. Here, 3 W.TEC Academy students from 5 schools (total of 15 students) came together to embark in a hackathon and compete against each other in the following ways:
The project was coordinated by the Programme officer of W.TEC- Folashade Braimoh after which assessment and grading of students projects was done by her (Folashade Braimoh) and the Communication Officer of W.TEC- Adeyemi Odutola. Facilitators and Volunteers of W.TEC were also present at the event to ensure a smooth one. Students who participated excellently well were then recognized and awarded gifts after which all girls present were encouraged on the field. 3. Mentorship Programme Venue: This segment held at Girls’Junior Grammar School, off Keffi Road - Ikoyi, Lagos (one of the schools of the W.TEC Academy). Here, W.TEC invited a female Software Developer - Kalu Chidinma Victoria to mentor the girls on ICT, she also taught them the amazing application of technology to all aspects of life. The overall event helped students have a better understanding of the opportunities in the ICT sector as well as participate in activities which focused on building their ICT skills. Comments from students: - Houessou Iris: The hackathon helped me to put my typing skills to test and practice more. I wasn't a good typist but now I am good at it because I latter practiced after the event and I have also discovered new things in Microsoft Word that I did not know before. Thanks to W.TEC. - Ajayi Oluwaseun: International Girls in ICT Day Organised by W.TEC was a wonderful programme and I am really grateful to have been chosen to represent my school. - Adeniyi Victoria: The Girls in ICT day celebration was fun for me, at the competition i was determined to come first and i achieved it!, and excited also because I saw other schools that were there to compete with me. I am also grateful for the gift W.TEC gave me for performing well at the hackathon. - Olarenwaju Funmilayo: The Girls in ICT day celebration was fun and educative for me, i learnt a lot of things, like knowing about the International Girls in ICT Day and learning more about successful women in ICT. this has encouraged me to aim higher and go into the ICT field. Thank you W.TEC Short Video clip from the Hackathon session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeZFd0ty8qw About W.TEC W.TEC trains women and girls to use ICT for learning, professional development and civic engagement. Through the use of social media, W.TEC supports women in their use of technology to uplift women’s rights and establish a network of technology-fluent women. Contact Information The Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre - W.TEC Suite 88, Block A4, Sura Shopping Centre, Simpson Street, Lagos Island, Lagos, Nigeria. Website: www.w-teconline.org Phone: +234.809.781.4542, +234.818.870.9251 E-mail: info@w-teconline.org Blog: www.w-teconline.org/blog Twitter: @wteconline Facebook: www.facebook.com/wteconlinepage |