By Chisomo Phiri
Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA ) on Thursday hosted the International Girls in ICT Day commemoration at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS ).
The event themed ‘Girls in ICT for Inclusive Digital Transformation’ brought together female students in ICT related programmes from MUBAS and Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST ).
It also attracted the female students from various secondary schools who want to study ICT related programmes at tertiary level.
In her speech, MACRA Board member Malla Kawale disclosed that despite the advancement in technology, many girls in the country, especially in rural areas remain unaware of the ICT career opportunities because of the gender stereotypes, cultural norms and limited to access.
“If you go to the village and ask girls what career they want to pursue; they will say nursing or teaching because that is all they know.
“They do not talk about ICT because they have never been exposed to it,” she said.
Kawale highlighted MACRA’s effort in bridging the digital divide through the Connect a School project, which is establishing 75 computer labs nationwide, to help girls access digital tools and training prioritizing the rural areas.
She encouraged girls to work hard, network with companies and leaders, and believe in their potential reaffirming that the future is digital and the future is female.
Kawale further called upon development partners, private sector leaders and other institutions to play a role in shaping an inclusive digital economy.
On his part,Head of Computer Science and Information Systems at MUBAS, Dr. Patrick Chikumba, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to digital transformation through inclusive programs.
“We ensure that there is 50-50 selection in ICT courses and next year we are introducing new programs like Software Engineering and Cyber Security to equip girls with skills to solve local problem,” he said.
Chikumba added that MUBAS is working with UNDP in digital transformation, targeting secondary schools and local communities to do awareness in digital skills.
“We are also working with girls in artificial intelligence to make sure citizens are equipped with enough ICT solutions,” he said.
One of the participants from MUBAS, Ellen Liradala who is in second-year pursuing ICT, said she was motivated to pursue such a career because she was curious about how computers works and how to fix them.
She added that seeing female lecturers in ICT boost confidence in girls and it keeps them dreaming bigger.
