300 Women Get ICT Training In PH

A non-governmental body, Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN) has graduated about 300 young ladies in information technology.
The programme which held in Port Harcourt yesterday was held in partnership with the European Union (EU), and is aimed at empowering women in the use of ICT to leverage and improve their businesses.
Programme Coordinator of the scheme, Ifeoma Ndekwu told The Tide Metro that the training was formulated to arm young and enterprising ladies in the Niger Delta to improve on their skills as a way to improve their well being.
Participants were drawn from all over the state and included people with physical challenges as it lasted for three months.
The trainees underwent training on Coding, Computer Appreciation, Graphics and Affiliate Marketing, according to Ndekwu and those who did exceptionally well were employed by top ICT and mobile network firms in the region.
A trainee, Elizabeth Topeh told The Tide Metro that she was fulfilled after three months intense training” I feel excited and appreciate SDN for what they have done for us.”
Topeh underwent tutoring on computer appreciation and assured of utilising her new skill to improve her network.
The same view was expressed by Merit Onoge, who participated through a virtual class.
Onoge said the class was flexible and allowed her to do other things. She left graphics, adding that, “ I intend to improve my profile on LinkedIn and display my work to get jobs.”
One of the trainers and mentor for the graduands,Gloria Ojukwu of Tech Trail urged the beneficiaries to utilise the skills they have acquired.
She said,” In the tech world, opportunities abound but they continue to change and so you must be able to upgrade.”
Stressing the need for the trainees to be patient and consistent, Ojukwu recalled that she broke through after four years in the industry,” so I will urge you to be constantly motivated. You need to have patience.”
On her part, Boma Dave Bave challenged the beneficiaries to exploit their skills through many avenues,” you can succeed in the comfort of your homes,” she said, “ICT is something you can do anywhere and if I can make it, then, you can also make it.”
Also speaking, South South Coordinator of National Information Technology Development Agency(NITDA), Samuel Gambo said he was happy that women have begun to see opportunities in ICT.
He stated that over the years, computer technology has evolved and that this sixth generation is driving the world such that almost all businesses are attached to information technology.
Gambo averred that the training will reduce the gender gap in ICT since men dominate the industry over the years.
The programme which was started in 2017 has been one top empowerment scheme for SDN.
With over 3,000 trained so far, Ndekwu said the body had to change its target sometime after the COVID-19 in 2020, as the use of ICT increased.
This year was targetted for 1500 women, but about 300 participated, Ndekwu disclosed, insisting that,” our expectation is to see women basically improve in their businesses.”