The need for young girls to capitalize on their interests and hobbies as catalysts into ICT careers was a part of the incentives students received at the International Girls In ICT Day event organized by eBusiness Life Communication Limited in Lagos.
This hint was given by the General Manager, Information Technology, MTN Nigeria, Bukola Ajayi, while addressing girls from different secondary schools in and around Lagos State that gathered for the event.
She charged the students, who listed some of their hobbies and strengths to include Fashion, Research, Dancing and Dermatology, among others, to look beyond the surface requirements of these fields and try and find out how technology can ease the practice. She said new tech opening can be created by the students to address these hobbies.
Ajayi noted that new careers are coming up that define technology, such as UI/UX Designs, integrator, Project Managers, Scum Masters, Business Analysis, among others. She noted that ideas for Apps that address their strengths and hobbies are part of delving into ICT, which can be furthered by writing the codes.
She traced the history and evolution of communications technology in Nigeria, and emphasized the place of technology as a help, assistant and support to make life easier and better.
Ajayi further noted that science and technology subjects are not as difficult as some people make of it, and told the girls to disabuse their minds on the difficult notion. Citing example of her antecedent as a computer science student, and how she insisted on the choice against all odds, and how it has paid off for her, Ajayi encouraged the students: “If you don’t limit yourself, nobody can do it.” She observed that technology affords independence.
Listing some of the steps to be taken, she charged the students to design Personal Roadmaps for themselves and have visions. Also to do a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis they can go by.
She engaged and enlightened the students on the use of technology in achieving their strength within their SWOT analysis, noting that they should start by learning, asking questions and executing tasks. She encouraged them to sit back and think of how technology can solve challenges.
She also charged the students to take up mentors who will guide them in their choice areas. And remain dogged in their quest to use ICT to make life better. Initial failure does not mean failure, but a call to get a better answer. “Failure is part of the journey of life”
“Whether you are in Art, Commercial or Science Class, you can be part of it. Age is not a barrier.”
“Look for mentors; look for people that will support you. And because there is so much space in technology, when you want a ready job in Nigeria, delve into ICT.”
In her opening remark, convener of the event and CEO of eBusiness Life Communication Limited, Mrs. Ufuoma Emuophedaro encouraged the girls to change the stereotype that sees ICT and Engineering careers as a gender role tilted towards men. She noted that this stereotype is what the Girls in ICT campaign is trying to erase.
“Do girls use technology? Yes! But that is not all we want. Apart from using, we want them to create technology. Also no matter what sector you are in, you need to have some in-depth knowledge of technology,” she said.
Reeling out the figures, she quoted an ITU statistics that showed the progress made, disclosing that since its inception in 2011, there has been 377,000 girls and young women taking up careers in ICT and 11,400 celebrations in over 171 countries. It is not just in Nigeria, but all over the world.
She however noted that the story has not all been gloom as the campaign by eBusiness Life has yielded positive results. “From this very platform, we have been able to raise a lot of girls. Some of them are already working. I have received a good number of mails from them thanking me for how that helped them change their perceptions, and they are now studying ICT-related causes. The numbers are getting better and it will continue to get better. We will continue to do this campaign to see it getting better,” Mrs. Emuophedaro noted.
The event saw the girls compete in STEM Quiz competition, Robot programming competition and Students’ Roundtable, winning prices and receiving gifts from the organisers.
Also in attendance were top executives of corporate partners and guests from both the private and public sectors.
The International Girls in ICT Day is an initiative of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) that seeks to bridge the gender divide in ICT related careers by encouraging girls to build a foundation that will position them in tech-related jobs of the future.
