16 May 2019

The President, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi is scheduled to officially open the 50th anniversary of the commemoration of the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) at Sefhare tommorrow (May 17).

Led by the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the event is expected  attract stakeholders within the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector as well as members of the public.

Residents of Sefhare/Ramokgonami constituency stand to benefit from ICT activities, aimed at promoting widespread use of ICT in the country.

WTISD has been celebrated annually since 1969 and this year’s celebration marks the founding of the international and Communication Union’s on May 17, 1865 when the first International Telegraph Convention was signed in Paris.

The purpose of the day is to raise awareness on the possibilities that the use of the internet and other ICTs can bring to societies and economies as well as ways to bridge the digital divide.

The event will be the first in the constituency and residents are waiting anxiously for the day.

Because of the seamless relationship between WTISD and Girls in Information Communication Technology (ICT), the Ministry of Transport and Communication together with other stakeholders, commemorated the Girls in ICT day on a date, which fits well with WTISD week.

Officially opening the Girls in ICT commemoration on May 15 in Ramokgonami, the Minister of Transport and Communication, Ms Dorcas Makgato said the ministry together with other relevant ministries and stakeholders would do everything to encourage and support girls to take up ICT studies and career paths.

She said it was essential to provide women and girls with equal access to education and job opportunities because such led to sustainable economies and was hugely beneficial to societies and humanity at large.

In this regard, she said such commemorations were pivotal in contributing positively to the socio-economic development of the nation.

Ms Makgato said the Girls in ICT day was a global initiative by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to which Botswana was a member with 192 other countries.

The ITU aims to highlight and have a special awareness raising activity which targets girls and women.

She said the primary idea was to ensure that in their daily conversations and actions and in their interactions with the rest of the society and among themselves, girls and young women became constantly aware of the importance of digital skills in the process of pursuing successful career prospects.

She noted that globally and historically, the ICT sector had been unduly dominated by males while women’s participation had been limited although they were equally able to contribute meaningfully in the sector.

Ms Makgato said history in Botswana and elsewhere,  showed that women were often engaged in low- level or low-skilled jobs even though their aptitude and aspirations might be higher. She said it was imperative to enable both girls and technology companies to reap the benefits of greater female participation in the ICT sector. ENDS