The nation’s telecommunications regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the gender disparity in the ICT career sector is bridged. This statement was made with the backing of the 2026 edition of the International Girls in ICT Day campaign being organized by eBusiness Life Communication Limited.
The event, which will be held at the Lagos Oriental Hotel on Thursday, June 25, 2026, is part of an annual campaign initiated by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to sensitize and encourage young girls to delve into ICT and related careers, which is seen to have been dominated by the male gender. The 2026 theme is “AI For Development: Girls Shaping The Digital Future”.
Digital Encode Limited, an award-winning cybersecurity consulting and integration firm, has also indicated interest in being part of this year’s campaign. Digital Encode specializes in enterprise network security, digital forensics, and Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC). The firm is well-known for its vendor-independent approach and for providing digital trust and threat mitigation solutions across Africa
The firm is a trusted advisor for many organizations in Africa, offering a broad suite of information security services.
Digital Encode Founder and Chief Visionary Officer (CVO), Dr. Obadare Peter Adewale had been an advocate of youth skills empowerment, and the chairman, Advisory Board of Cybersafe Foundation, promoters of Cyber Girls Initiative.
AfriGOpay Financial Services Limited has also joined the partnership train.
AfriGOpay Financial Services Limited is the company behind AfriGO, Nigeria’s first domestic card scheme, launched by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS). The domestic card scheme is designed to provide secure, cost-effective, and localized payment services, including debit, credit, prepaid, and virtual cards. By processing transactions locally, AfriGO ensures “data sovereignty,” meaning Nigerian payment data remains within the country, which improves security and reduces dependency on foreign exchange.
With the support for girl in ICT, AfriGOpay has committed to ensuring that the gender disparity in ICT career is bridged.
Citing ITU’s estimate of skills shortfall of over two million jobs in the ICT sector by 2030, Convener, Girls-In-ICT/CEO, e-Business Life Communication Limited, Mrs. Ufuoma Emuophedaro (‘Daro), said girls and young women who learn coding, apps development and computer science will not only be well-placed for a successful career in the ICT sector, but ICT skills that are rapidly becoming a strong advantage for students in just about any other field they might choose to pursue. “Girls with ICT skills can expect to earn good salaries and enjoy plenty of career opportunities.
Girls in ICT Day reminds us that ICTs help to improve the lives of people everywhere – through better health care, better environmental management, better communications, and better educational systems that transform the way children and adults learn.”
Referencing the 2026 theme, Mrs. Daro noted: “Artificial Intelligence, in all of its forms, is the development vehicle. While there is a gender gap in every industry, the largest gaps are found in the STEM fields. Women in ICT often find themselves in junior or support roles rather than in managerial roles, with little opportunity for advancement. They are also less likely to hold an executive position, become ICT entrepreneurs, or be represented among science and technology policymakers.
To thrive in STEM, girls and young women must be exposed to women in leadership positions, fostering inspiration and breaking down barriers that hinder their progress. The Girls in ICT Day 2026 theme aims to address these challenges, encouraging empowerment and skills development for a more equitable future in STEM.”
The 2026 International Girls in ICT celebration event will feature different competitions among female students from widely selected private and public secondary schools. These include STEM Quiz and practical tech competitions. Other features of the day will include Student’s Roundtable Discussion; interactive and motivational talk from renowned women ICT professionals.
Awards and gift prizes will be given to winning schools and students of the Quiz and Tech competitions. Also, awards will be given to deserving women who have exemplified themselves in the ICT industry.
The International Girls in ICT Day is an initiative launched through ITU Resolution 70 with the idea of creating a global environment that will empower and encourage girls and young women to consider careers in the field of information and communication technologies. The Union declared the 4th (fourth) Thursday in April every year as a day to highlight the annual campaign to encourage girls and young women to consider careers in ICT, and society is reminded to support them in their choice.
At the end of the event, it is expected that the young students should be able to introspect and pursue any desired career path in ICT, technical or not, without bias or being gender conscious.
This year’s event will have top government and private sector executives in attendance.
