Posts and Telecommunication Assistant Minister Wants Liberian Females Venture in ICT Programs
By: Sylvester Choloplay
Email: sccholoplay@gmail.com
Liberia-April 26, 2024:
The Assistant Minister for Technical Services at the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunication is challenging young Liberian women to take advantage of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) related programs.
Hon. Nicholas Johnson wants women to put in more time in tech programs and run competition with their male counterparts in the ICT.
According to Minister Johnson, though ICT programs require putting in adequate time, female participation in ICT – related fields in Liberia continues to be low.
Hon. Johnson echoed the call on Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Monrovia during the official celebration of Girls in ICT Day. The occasion was hosted by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunication under the theme “Leadership”.
This year’s theme for the Girls in ICT Day celebrations “Leadership” underscores the critical need for strong female role models in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers.
The Girls in ICT Day 2024 theme aims to address challenges, encouraging empowerment and leadership development for a more equitable future in STEM.
According to media reports, women now fill 40% of high-skill occupations globally and women are nearly absent from software development, engineering, technology research, academia as well as at the highest levels of policy making.
The ICT Day celebration conducted under the auspices of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunication brought together over 200 young females from across several organizations like the Liberia Information Technology Student Union.
With several ICT related topics and different presenters, some of the topics presented during the ICT Day celebration were the Importance of girls /women in ICT, Show casing knowledge acquired in ICT, Women in Information Communication Technology Activities in Bomi amongst others.
Presenting on the topic “The importance of girls/women in ICT”, Madam Promise Anna Robert – ICT Staff PMO Office revealed that there is a leadership gender gap in every industry, stressing that the largest gaps have found in the STEM fields.
Madam Promise said women in ICT often find themselves in junior or support roles rather than in managerial roles, with little opportunity for advancement.
“They are also less likely to hold an executive position, become ICT entrepreneurs, or be represented among science and technology policymakers”, she disclosed.
She also said if girls and young women must be exposed to women in leadership positions, fostering inspiration and breaking down barriers that hinder their progress, they have to thrive in STEM programs.
Meanwhile participants of the program applauded the organizers of the program while showing interest in ICT and STEM programs.
