By Ene Osang
Abuja
The National Centre for Woman Development (NCWD) has completed the training for 50 unemployed women graduates on ICT and business skills.
Its Director General, Onyeka Onwenu, disclosed this in Abuja at the closing ceremony of a 10-day Computer and Business Skills Training for Women with the theme “No woman left out.”
She said the training offered the less privileged girls and women the opportunity to acquire ICT and business skills as well as learning the latest technologies in digital media.
Onwenu said the training was in line with the UN and the International Telecommunications Union’s (ITU’s) call for action to empower women and girls to meet their goals and aspirations.
She said: “Many of you are aware that gender equality is a basic human right enshrined in the UN Charter and it is one of the main objectives of UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
“This administration is fully committed to it. Hence NCWD is using the power of ICT to provide new digital opportunities in the hope of empowering millions of girls and women in the country.”
Continuing, he said: “New challenges and threats to girls and women continue to arise as the world changes. Women’s education is under attack.
“More than 200 school girls were abducted from their school in northern Nigeria by a terrorist organisation that targets schools and is adamantly opposed to educating girls and women.
“The public outcry against this violence cannot be overemphasised.”
She said the Centre had been responding to challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment among women.
“Educating women and closing the internet gender gap had an important multiplier effect as it expands opportunities for families, communities and nations.”
Earlier, the Director of ICT Manny Emecheta, said the training of the 50 graduates was the first batch and the second batch of 50 would be announced soon.
A beneficiary, Mrs Attah Mnena, said it was a good thing they were exposed to computer world, adding that it would empower women economically.
