NCC Seeks Inclusion Of Girls In ICT

Prof. Umar Danbatta, the executive vice-chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has urged for the participation of girls in the ICT industry.

According to Danbatta, this is consistent with UN efforts to close the digital gender gap and empower females in technology.

At the inaugural Nigerian Girls Can Code Competition (NGCC) Award ceremony on Wednesday in Abuja, he made this statement.

Danbatta asserted that gender disparities were still pervasive in society and added that women had difficulty finding suitable employment, faced occupational segregation, and experienced lower pay than men.

Danbatta, represented by the Executive Commissioner, of Technical Services, Ubale Maska, said that empowering women and girls would fuel thriving economies, and spur productivity and growth.

He said: “Every year, young people from around the globe use different kinds of tools to showcase their ICT prowess.

“We believe that critical societal problems can be solved using technologies such as artificial intelligence and the internet of things.

“Data analytics application of these emerging technologies in agriculture has the potential to increase both the operational efficiency of farmers and the yield of the land.

“There is also an increased possibility for targeted application of farm inputs and resources thus reducing cost and increasing yields.

“It will provide a competitive edge needed by farmers in terms of accurate decision-making, improved productivity, and efficiency.”

According to Danbatta, the potential for girls in ICT are unlimited with the arrival of the fifth generation (5G) and its continuing deployment in Nigeria.

The competition, according to Executive Commissioner, Technical Services Communications, Ubale Maska, was created primarily to empower Nigerian females and pique their interest in ICT as a career route.

Maska claimed that teaching the girls how to write codes and applications will help them greatly in the ICT field.

The challenge of digital inequality, he claimed, as well as the disparity between men and women in ICT was addressed by the competition.