DIGITAL EMPOWERMENT: How participants commended NCC for its women, girls enlightenment programme
By Eyo Nsima
Participants, Thursday, commended the Nigerian Communication Commission’s commitment to the promotion and empowerment of young women and girls in the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the country.
The sensitization campaigns were held at Government Girls’ Science School (GSS), Kuje and Nobel Hall Leadership Academy, Abuja on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, as the NCC joined the rest of the world in marking the 10th anniversary of Girls in ICT Day 2021.
The campaigns were also held at Girls’ Academy Senior Secondary School, Lagos Island and Girls’ Senior Secondary Grammar School, Obalende Keffi, Lagos State; Model Girls’ Secondary School, Rumueme and Government Girls’ Secondary School Rumuokwuta, Port Harcourt, Rivers State; Kano Capital Secondary School (Girls’ section), Matan Fada Road, Nassarawa and Mairo Tijjani Girls’ Science and Technical College, Kano State.
In a statement obtained by The Daily, www.thedaily-ng.com, NCC confirmed that, “The participants commended the NCC for the elaborate enlightenment programme, which they said was very beneficial as it has stimulated their interest and dispelled the negative gender perceptions often associated with ICT.”
However, addressing participants at Nobel Hall Academy, Head, Internet Governance, NCC, Tokunbo Oyeleye, said the annual event is a testimony to the importance, the Commission places on the need to expose girls and young women to more opportunities in ICT as well as address their cybersecurity concerns.
Conveying the felicitations of the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Commission, Professor, Umar Graba Danbatta, Oyeleye said the theme of this year’s edition of the programme, “Connected Girls, Creating Brighter Futures’’ aptly underscores the growing importance of the need for an environment that encourages young women to acquire requisite digital skills to attain their future aspirations.
“The Commission aligns with the ITU’s Resolution 70, which advocates gender mainstreaming and promotion of gender equality, empowerment of women through Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
The Commission has consistently used the platform to encourage Nigerian girls to venture into ICT careers. “Hence, we sensitise students in secondary schools on how the NCC, as the telecom sector regulator, is creating a safer space for girls, by raising awareness on digital skills, gender-based violence as well as developing initiatives for the protection of children and girls’ rights online,” she said.
She stated further that the annual event also resonates with the Child Online Protection (COP) drive of the Commission aimed at collectively creating measures for a safer online environment for children. The Commission through various forms of support and participation in activities that educate children on ways to keep safe online have been advancing the objective to promote and safeguard national interests, safety and security.
In the same vein, a Senior Manager at NCC, Yisa Elizabeth, who led the Commission’s team to GSS, Kuje, encouraged the young girls to take advantage of the numerous opportunities in ICT for their personal and career development.
