ICT: We have trained more than 100,000 staff of tertiary institutions in Nigeria-DBI Boss
Virginia Agada
It is a Special ten (10) Year Anniversary Celebration of International Girls in ICT Day with a 2021 theme:
Connected Girls, Creating Brighter Futures!
Nigeria alongside all countries of the world has celebrated this special day of the International Girls in ICT Day, 2021 on 22 April at the Government Girls Science Secondary School Dutse, Makaranta, Abuja.
The President/ Chief Executive Officer, Digital Bridge Institute, Engr. Prof. Mohammed Ajiya elucidated the importance of girls in ICT declaring that his institution has severally supported and would continue to support the girls’ child in ICT as priority is on the percentage of 60 as to against 40 percent for the boys. He also assured the Hon. Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen of his support to the programs and policies that are ICT inclined.
Engr. Prof. Mohammed Ajiya who asserted in his remarks at the institution on Thursday in Dutse-Abuja while marking the International Girls in ICT Day encouraged the girls’ child to carry science subjects seriously.
“The ICT day is celebrated to create awareness on girls’ child in taking up the opportunities that are much more available in the ICT Sector, and we are glad to be one of the
One hundred and seventy-one (171) countries around the world to celebrate this special day.
“We want to create that awareness such that the girl child will develop interest and get motivated to surmount challenges in the sector”.
“The institute, Bridge Digital Institute which is modeled to have the likes of the American Institutes organogram drives the ICT sector and telecommunication sector and that’s the advent of technology.
” The institute has
trained more than 100,000 staff of tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
“Bridge Digital Institute is a training institute in the ICT sector established in 2004 by the Nigeria Communications Commission, with the mandate to increase human capacity in technology.
In the wisdom of NCC, they created a campus of its institute in each of the six Geo-political zones of the nation.
We have in Lagos which is South West, Asaba South-South, Enugu, South East, Yola, North East, Kano, North West and in Abuja for North Central.
“We run several courses, both long and short-term courses. The institute also partners with some selected universities in the country.
In Kano and Lagos campuses, the institution runs National Diploma in training students in such a way that they can become internationally certified so that soon as they finish with us, they are world commodities.
I am happy to say that in Kano, His Excellency Gov. Gamduje sponsored 60 girls and 40 boys. I also urge other governors to emulate him”, he added.
The Hon. Minister, Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, speaking at the event, disclosed that one of her top priorities as the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs is the Education of Girls’ Child, stressing that the girls’ child education is essential to central development in the country.
“Education is key to all girls’ child. If we can educate girls, we rest assured that we have educated potential mothers and in turn will in its accord reduce cases of child abuse, GBV and other issues that women are vulnerable to in the society”.
“Information and communication technologies have been invaluable during the COVID-19 pandemic. They help us to stay connected and to keep vital services and businesses going.
“Yet almost half the world is still offline – and most of those who lack access to digital technology are women and girls in developing countries. The latest figures from the International Telecommunication Union show a 17 percent gender gap in internet users globally. This is even wider in the least developed countries. In some regions, this gender gap is growing, reinforcing gender inequalities by denying women and girls opportunities to access education, find better-paid jobs, and start new businesses.
“Making these technologies available to all is an essential part of building back stronger communities and economies, and addressing many of the world’s most pressing challenges.
“International Girls in ICT Day aims to inspire a global movement to increase the representation of girls and women in technology. Today, let’s recommit to the goal of equal access for young women and girls to opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math”.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Anthonia Ekpa ably represented by the Director Child Development, Hajiya Jumiah Muhammed in her address, stated that the effect of COVID-19 has exposed untapped potentials in the ICT sector, urging the girls to take ICT related subjects passionately.
Also, speaking at the event, was the President, Women in ICT, Dr. Chinwe Anyachebelu, she urged the students of the institution to begin to have passion for mathematics as it is the basis for sciences.
The Principal, Government Girls Science Secondary School Dutse, Mrs. Fatima Muhammed thanked the Minister for finding the institution worthy to host her and assured her of her best in ensuring that the students of the institution make the nation proud.
The highlight of the event was the showcasing of the team robot traffic mechanism designed by the students of the institution on ways to curb traffic within the Abuja metropolis.
