ABUJA – Some women in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) said that the Federal Ministry of Communications Technology initiatives on gender have built women with job-ready skills.
The women, in separate interviews with journalists in Abuja said they were appreciative of the initiatives of the ministry.
Some of the initiatives are Smart Woman initiative aimed at updating women in different areas of life, Digital Girls’ Club, which offers schoolgirls ICT education and 1000 Hauwei Girls that teaches female graduates ICT.
According to them, the initiatives and programmes have gone a long way in promoting women’s knowledge and appreciation of communication technology.
One of the respondents, Mrs. Margaret Obi, a teacher said before the minister came on board many girls were not aware that ICT was a subject that could be handled by girls.
She said that most girls thought that anything that had to do with the sciences and gadgets was out of the question for them.
“Many of the programmes floated and implemented by the minister, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, are projects that many thought were too unrealistic.
“Today we can see the results in how knowledgeable our girls have become in ICT.
“Programmes like Girls in ICT, Digital Girls’ Club, Smart Woman initiative and the Huawei 1000 Girls are all commendable initiatives that have helped to equip women for better efficiency and effectiveness.
“An Initiative like the Hauwei 1000 Girls has empowered many unemployed graduates to build technical and job ready ICT skills; it enables girls that have graduated to be trained in ICT skills,’’ Obi said.
She added that in today’s world, the lack of ICT skills could make a person unemployable; but that with the programmes, many would easily get jobs because of their knowledge in ICT.
Mrs. Morenike Afolabi, a banker, said that the Smart Woman initiative had been beneficial to her as a working woman without much time to spare.
Afolabi said of all the programmes of the ministry, the Smart Woman initiative has made life easier for me online; now I am able to get as much information as possible.
“The initiative provides affordable means of receiving accurate and timely information relevant to one’s socio-economic needs.
“It is primarily a mobile service supporting the advancement and education of women around the world.
“Then you talk of the Digital Girls Club for girls in the secondary schools; there is something for everyone.
“Apart from building capacity in ICT, it also increases our awareness about happenings around the world,’’ she said.
Afolabi also said that the ministry had contributed immensely to girls and women’s socio-economic development in the country and expressed the hope that this would be sustained.
A medical personnel, Mrs. Cordelia Bello, also applauded the efforts of the minister and urged the incoming government to sustain the programmes.
Bello also urged all beneficiaries to apply the skills to self and national development.