By Emeka Aginam

To be globally competitive, the Minister of Communication and Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson at the just concluded 2012 World Telecommunication and Information Society day held simultaneously last week globally has said governments and private sectors must engage women and girls in ICT careers.

The Minister who is passionate about women participation in ICT developments said that such engagements can be through scholarship schemes, special competitions in ICT amongst girls and women and employment opportunities to help empower them to live better live and reduce poverty.

The Minister believes that the theme of this year’s event “Women and Girls in ICT’ should be a wake up call to all government ministries, departments and agencies, private sector, civil society and other stakeholders as the demand for a range of ICT skills around the globe presents a unique window of opportunity to properly position girls and women in the industry and provide them with the tools necessary to succeed.

While calling on relevant government ministries and agencies should prioritise the implementation of policies that develop human talent and the rigid skill set for the building of a vibrant and diversified ICT sector, she said that women and girls shoud be engaged at all levels in order to fully utilize and promote the full breadth of talent in the country”.