Youth Initiative for Sustainable Human Development in Africa (YiSHDA)

5/31/2018

Africa, Nigeria, Kaduna, Nigeria

40 participants

Over the past few years, there has been an increasing emphasis on girls and information and communication technology in the development sector. Large government donors, NGOs and the private sector believe girls could play a big role in resolving poverty and making development gains through ICT. But, for many girls, access and use of ICT remains a huge challenge. Gender discrimination, lack of confidence, language barrier, low literacy, lack of time and money, restricted mobility due to cultural factors or safety often prevent girls from taking advantage of ICT. 

To make it possible for girls to participate fully in their family and communities and at broader levels requires a shift in thinking: social behaviours and attitudes needs to be changed. Special care also needs to be taken to ensure that girls have equal access to equipment. Where ICT cannot be integrated into the classroom or where girls are not in school, it can be brought to them through non-formal education and extra-curricular activities.

To mark this year’s International Girls in ICT Day – an awareness day dedicated to encouraging girls to consider careers in IT, Youth Initiative for Sustainable Human Development in Africa (www.yishda.org) organized a one day event with the theme "Girls Can Code Too" in partnership with the National Library of Nigeria, Kaduna Branch on 31st May, 2018 and brought together a total of Forty (40) girls ages 14-17.

The event has two main objectives:

1. Inspire girls using catchy ICT programs to pursue careers in ICT related fields or use ICT for academic or social improvement.

2. Solve or make easier, academic processes in their school by writing codes.

Girls Can Code Too centered on the use of JAVA Programming for solving complex issues within and outside the school environment and will aid the girls to focus on how they can use JAVA for addressing personal, social, academic and community issues.

The event will be in three phase;

1. Practical Session on JAVA focused on problem solving approaches.

2. Career talk by a Lecturer in the field of ICT

3. Group competition on code writing to solve minor/major problems

The President/CEO of YiSHDA, Joseph Emmanuel Yaba in his goodwill message  "This event is very special to our heart and we see it as one of our responsibilities to inspire future generations to become technology leaders regardless of gender, background and race. YiSHDA is committed to building tomorrow's leaders today and we believe that everyone have what it takes to create a positive impact in the society"

Testimonies and Feedbacks

As a girl I learnt that ICT gives you an avenue to make right decisions, from now on I will get involved in ICT; and will not see it as boy’s affair only. Precious Ike, Government Girls Secondary School Kakuri, Kaduna.

 I learnt about the impact of ICT to the girl child, the women and the society at large; and I am glad to be here today as a participants. I use to be scared of ICT, not anymore after today. Anita Efe-Oyibo, St. Anne’s Schools, Kaduna.

 ICT can solve any of our everyday problems; I learnt that everybody can learn ICT, especially the female students who think they cannot do anything related to ICT. I advise females to try and learn more about ICT because it can help us a lot in life. Thank YiSHDA for the opportunity. Moses Esther, Queen Amina College, Kaduna.

 I gained a lot about ICT today. I understand that as a lady, you are not to end all your life in the house calling yourself a house lady or thinking that what a man can do a woman cannot do any little of it. Ogbuefi Catherine, Government Secondary School, Television, Kaduna. 

The event came to close by 3:30pm (Nigerian Time) with the presentation of Certificate of Participation.