Gender equality is a hot topic in Africa, and Malawi believes that Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) could serve as an accelerator of gender equality in the country.
“ICT can be used as a catalyst that can help accelerate progress towards achieving this target. Gender equality is a basic human right enshrined in the UN charter and it is one of the main objectives of the UN millennium development goals,” said Macra (Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority) Board Chairperson, Martha Kwataine during the commemoration of Girls in ICT Day in Mangochi.
According to the Malawi News Agency, Kwataine said Macra would continue to provide a conducive environment for both public and private sector participation, deployment and utilization of ICT in both urban and rural communities in a bid to achieve meaningful socio-economic growth.
Macra Director General Charles Nsaliwa echoed the same sentiment. “Our expectation is that the interventions will inspire the girls through the White Spaces project so that girls can take ICT as a lifetime career.”
Nsaliwa added that with training, he hopes that girls will see the benefit of ICT in Malawi. “I am convinced that with the two weeks training that Macra will facilitate to girls at this school, the beneficiaries will take up ICT and make it a career for the benefit of the country.”
Charlie Fripp – Consumer Tech editor
