The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) recently presented five (5) sets of Computers to the Nigerian Women in Information Technology (NIWIT). This was a follow up to the ICT training and competition organized by the group in partnership with the Oyo State Ministry of Education and The Nigerian Communications Commission, Ibadan Zonal Office for girls in secondary school in Oyo State.
The presentation ceremony which held at the NCC headquarters in Abuja, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Prof Umar Danbatta represented by the Director Public Affairs, Mr. Tony Ojobo enumerated the contribution of ICT to the development of the Nigerian economy.
According to him “many businesses such as Banking, Hospitality Industries, Airlines, health and many more are getting more sophisticated and easier to run due to the employment of ICT tools.” He went further to say that ICT development has enabled us to live a digital life where in the comfort of your room you can virtually do a lot of things.
The EVC said the NCC has created a number of programmes to encourage students in secondary schools to have access to ICT through donation of ICT tools as well as training them. “This is to enable them compete globally”. The NCC chief appreciated and encouraged the group to do more in raising awareness and interest of the girl child in the area of Information Technology as there are still very few women in the industry. He also promised that the Commission will further partner with the group advising that they should also reach out to other partners like the Ministry of Women Affaires and Ministry of Education to catch the girls at a younger age especially in public schools where many of smart girls do not have the opportunity like those in the private schools to access computers.
Leader of the delegation and National President of the Association, Dr. Florence Babalola appreciated the gesture from the Commission and promised to use the association’s platform to further promote the use of ICT among girls in the secondary schools. The aim of the association according to her is to bridge the gender gap in ICT by bringing right tools and knowledge to the girls through training which will make them not just users but also manufacturers of ICT consumables. Dr. Babalola went further to say that they will leverage on the existing ICT centres provided by NCC to train the girls.
