e-Business Life Communication Limited

6/13/2017

Africa, Nigeria, Lagos, Nigeria

The Grand Finale of the sixth edition of the International Girls in ICT Day in Nigeria was celebrated on Thursday, June 13, 2017 by e-Business Life Communication Limited. The date was different from the global date because students in Nigeria were still on the Easter vacation as at April.

The event took place at the Lagos Oriental Hotels, Lekki-Lagos.  A total of 100 Senior Secondary School (SS1) Girls (equivalent of Grade 10) from 10 schools attended from both government (public) and private schools across Lagos state.

The theme of this year’s edition was in line with ITU’s theme “Expanding Horizons, Changing Attitudes.”  Activities of the day included talks by the Minister of Communications Technology, Barrister Adebayo Shittu and the Chief Executive Officer, MainOne Company, Funke Opeke, who was represented by the company’s marketing manager, Jumoke Akande.

Other Speakers were  Adeyinka Adeyomo, a female Vendor Management Specialist at Vodacom Business Nigeria; Jeti Olafimihan, Brand Manager, SystemSpecs Ltd; Mrs. Gozy Ijogun, Managing Director, TD Mobile; and Moradeke Aintola, Service Desk Manager , at Computer Warehouse Group.

These seasoned professionals took time to demystify careers in technology and made the young girls see why a career in technology is worth considering by telling their own stories. This also made the girls see first-hand women who have succeeded in ICT.

There was also a Quiz competition, which was focused on the STEM subjects. Prizes were presented to the first three winners of both the quiz and those of the app inventor competition, which took place earlier in May.

In continuation of what we began in 2013, the induction of deserving women ICT professionals into the Tech Women Hall of Fame (Award Ceremony); three women were inducted this year for their roles in the development of ICT in Nigeria. They include, the Managing Director of Nigeria Communication Satellite (NIGCOMSAT), Mrs. Abimbola Alale; the Managing Director of Digital Jewels Limited, Mrs. Adedoyin Odunfa and The Managing Director of Read Manna, Mrs. Edna Agusto, for their roles in ICT development in Nigeria.

 From the feedback forms filled out by the students and guests, participants at the event unanimously agreed that no career should be regarded as “made for men,” and more awareness should be created to sensitize more girls. They also agreed that females all over the world should challenge themselves to do the unimaginable, achieve the unthinkable and bridge the gender digital gap with passion in whatever they do.