Education
Source: Daily Observer
The Information Technology Association Of The Gambia (ITAG) on Thursday observed International Girls in Information Communication and Technology (ICT) Day at the American Corner, Comium building, along Kairaba Avenue. The theme for this year's celebration is 'Inspire me'.
The charitable organisation was initiated in 2010 in Mexico under a resolution by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) world body, with the main objective of massively involving young girls in the ICT industry.
Speaking at the occasion, Nancy Niang, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Information and Communication Infrastructure, said that International Girls in ICT Day is an initiative backed by ITU member states back in 2010, so as to create a global environment that empowers and encourages girls and young women to consider careers in the growing field of information and communication technologies.
According to her, the International Telecommunication Union [ITU], a the body of United Nations for the past 45 years, has coordinated the shared global use of the radio spectrum, promoted international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, and worked to improve telecommunication infrastructure in the developing world.The ITU has also established the worldwide standards that foster seamless interconnection of a vast range of communications systems and has addressed the global challenges of our times, such as mitigating climate change and strengthening cyber security.
According to PS Niang, recent World Bank reports (2012) identified ICT as the industry that will lead forward world economies, improve lives of families across the globe and make the planet smaller. She referred to another World Bank study that revealed that a 10% increase in broadband penetration can potentially translate into 1.3% GDP growth. "Therefore women and girls should take center stage in this process," she emphasized.
For his part, Poncelet Ileleji, the president of ITAG, disclosed that The Gambia chapter of ITAG was formed in 2004 with a mandate to provide the technological know-how of basic ICT application in the every day lives of the girl child. To this end, he asserted, annual ICT programmes are now being conducted to educate and inform girls, in collaboration with the Ministry of Information Communication and Infrastructure (MOICI). Ileleji added that certain schools have benefited from their numerous ICT structural development programmes; such as Saint Joseph's Senior Secondary School in partnership with Western Union Foundation'. Commenting on the theme of this year's Girl in ICT Day, the ITAG president stated that, 'Inspire me', reflects the commitment to promote the use female role models in the ICT industry to inspire the younger generation.
He concluded by outlining their plans to creating more ICT forums and facilities in the rural areas, but pointed out limited financial resources are confining them to the Greater Banjul Area at least for now.
Vice president of ITAG, Beran Dondeh Gillen, reiterated the importance of girls' participation in ICT, urging them to do away with the notion that it is a 'male only' domain. She said such forum gives participants the opportunity to develop better understanding and passion for a career in ICT, most especially for girls.
Papa Muhammed Njie, the education adviser at the United States Embassy in Banjul, underscored the significance of ICT as the basis of attaining academic successe."Education is the greatest engine of personal development, because through education the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor", he noted.
Other speakers included Fatim Badgie, former minister of MOICI; Kalifa Faal, computer scientist; Isatou Jah, head of IT at Qcell; Kawsu Sillah, corporate affairs officer, ITAG; Kumbale Goode, quality assurance engineer; and the production manager of FAWEGAM, Modou Nyang.