Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) with support from Action Aid Nigeria recently organized an ICT quiz competition in Gaube community, Kuje Area Council of the FCT, in commemoration of the 2023 International Girls in ICT Day celebration.
The program aimed to encourage girls and young women to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
Yesmin Salako, the CITAD Abuja Program Officer, emphasized the importance of celebrating International Girls in ICT and promoting gender equality in the tech industry. Salako stated that “Organizing an ICT quiz competition was an effective way to engage and encourage girls to explore and develop their skills in STEM fields.
Salako, further explained that “CITAD, in collaboration with partners, aims to inspire and empower girls by providing them with the necessary skills, confidence, and support to pursue careers in ICT”
The Vice Principal of the participating school, Mrs. Chindidu A., expressed the significance of such programs in a context of low girls’ student enrollment, teenage pregnancy, and high school dropout rates.
She called for the incorporation of ICT subjects at all levels of learning and encouraged the students to recognize their potential as future contributors to the ICT field.
The ICT quiz competition concluded with a JSS3 student securing the first-place position, while JSS2 students attained the second-place position. The winners were rewarded with various gifts.
International Girls in ICT Day is observed annually on April 27th, with this year’s theme being “Digital Skills for Life.” The initiative aims to create lasting impacts by encouraging more girls to pursue careers in ICT and fostering gender equality in the field.