Telecommunications giant, Globacom has encouraged girls to pursue careers in the ICT sector. This is the highlight of the 13th Girls in ICT Day celebration organized by E-Businesslife Communications Limited in Lagos.
Speaking at the event, the Vertical Head for Financial Institutions and HNI at Globacom, Adeboye Adeniji urged girls to imagine themselves as innovators, leaders, and creators rather than as consumers of technology services.
She said: “At Globacom, we know that when girls have the tools, the training, and the confidence, there is no limit to what you can achieve.Whether you dream of becoming a software engineer, a robotics expert, a cybersecurity analyst, or even the next big tech CEO – it’s all possible”.
Adeniji urged the girls not to be discouraged as to make a detour from the course of their dreams and advised them not to let “anyone tell you tech is ‘only for boys’. You are smart enough.You are strong enough. And you have every right to dream as big as you want”.
Because the future of technology in Nigeria isn’t only being developed in labs and boardrooms but also in classrooms, she advised the children to “keep learning, stay curious, ask questions, and never be afraid to try,” she noted.
She pledged that Globacom, a fully Nigerian-owned company, would always be prepared to help young Nigerians achieve their goals. “We have faith in you, we’re behind you, and we’re excited to see how you’ll transform the world,” she told the girls.
In her welcome address, Mrs. Ufuoma Emuophedaro, the CEO of E-Business Life Communication Limited and the convener of the annual event, noted that “the world of ICT holds limitless possibilities.
It is an environment where invention flourishes, creativity is unrestricted, and dreams are realized via computer programs and digital solutions.
She however, recognized the fact that women’s presence in this profession is still disproportionately low, despite its enormous potential.
According to her, her her efforts with the programme aimed to dispel myths, dismantle obstacles, dispel prejudices, and create a “future where every girl, regardless of background or circumstance, feels empowered to pursue her passion for technology.
“That means ensuring that women and girls have equal access to leadership training, career development, scholarships, and fellowships.It means addressing gender bias and challenging societal norms and stereotypes that discourage girls from pursuing ICT careers”, she noted.
Apart from lectures, round table discussion and a quiz, the students from the various schools also demonstrated their prowess in developing obstacle-avoiding robots.
Though they were not perfect at it, but their commendable efforts indicated the growing interests of young girls in ICT and science.