MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has underscored the importance of increased participation of women in engineering and technology.
To commemorate the recently- held International Women’s Day, MTN Nigeria hosted a Twitter Space session to discuss the theme DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality aimed at bridging the gender gap and encourage women participation in tech.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicated that women make up 22 per cent of the number of engineering and technology university graduates yearly and about a fifth of the number of people working in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector.
Chief Digital Officer, MTN Nigeria Communications (MTN Nigeria), Aisha Mumuni explained that, to encourage more women participation in tech there was the need to catch them young and introduce them to the basic aspects of tech before moving them through the educational system.
Executive Director, Yellow Brick Road, Nnena Onyewuchi, who was the guest speaker, said part of the plan to encourage more women participation.
“In a lot of families in this part of the world, girls enter technology later than boys. While it seems like a protective measure, the girls end up less conversant, and less comfortable with the use of tech. For older women, there are many opportunities in technology outside engineering roles,” Onyewuchi said.
Vice President, Grid Consulting, Siemens Technology, Onyeche Tifase, highlighted three channels to effectively get women into tech early enough including exposure, education and employment.
“Women participation in tech is a joint effort from parents, institutions, employers, and other females coming together to pass down the belief that females can thrive in a tech environment,” Tifase said.
According to Tifase, women are active users of tech. In the kitchen, at work, and to get personal tasks done, tech is used. The right orientation on tech, emergence of skilled personnels for training, as well as the effective collaboration of women to mentor the younger generation would bridge the gap, and encourage more participation in this industry.
Chief Executive Officer, Futuresoft, Nkemdilim Uwaje Begho, noted the need to build relationships with men in the room as a practical approach to dealing with gender bias in the workplace.
“Being confident and understanding that when estimated, you win, will give you power,” Uwaje Begho said.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
