Uganda Getting Ready To Celebrate Women In ICT

As Uganda prepares to celebrate the International Women’s Day (IWD) slated for 8 March 2022, the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance is planning to celebrate her professional women in ICT.

Amina Zawedde, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, announced that female ICT professionals will be celebrated during a six-day conference from March 7-12 at the National ICT innovation Hub, Nakawa, under the theme Celebrating Uganda’s Women in ICT and Innovation.”

She adds that “As we celebrate women’s achievements around the world, the Ministry, under its ICT innovation initiative would like to specially recognise women-led ICT innovations including inventions, products, and systems developed in Uganda or by Ugandans.”

The Ministry’s statement further invites all female ICT professionals to apply for the opportunity to showcase their innovations at the ICT Innovation Hub. The ICT sector is the fastest-growing sector in the world and the ICT market is forecasted to reach a size of over $5 trillion in 2021 and almost $6 trillion by 2023.

The theme for this year’s IWD according to the United Nations (UN) website is Gender Equality Today For A Sustainable Tomorrow.

Last year, MTN Uganda in conjunction with the Project Girls For Girls joined the rest of the world to celebrate the day. In line with the theme, Choose to Challenge, the focus was stationed on women in leadership, based on the fact that executive leaders play a significant part in advancing gender equality.

Yolanda Cuba, who joined MTN Group shortly before the pandemic shared tips on how women can make the most of the pandemic to their advantage rather than lowering their ambitions.

“COVID-19 forced me to upscale my ambition. Many people downscale their ambition during the pandemic. I thought I could do more even in the face of the pandemic,” said Cuba, who unsurprisingly rose to her new position as Vice President for the South and East African MTN Markets and was one of the 35 Most Influential Women In Tech, Africa.

Yolanda said, “It takes only 10 per cent more effort than everybody else for one to be outstanding.” Besides encouraging them to align their life’s purpose to their career ambition, Cuba also encouraged women to surround themselves with motivated, competent women who will in turn support their vision. She also urged employers to give women opportunities to take up senior roles while encouraging women leaders to look out for the younger competent women in their workplaces.