Bridging inequality in gender access to tech

An International Telecommunications Union (ITU) report shows that there are 200million fewer women online than their male counterparts and this figure could rise to 350m by 2018. Also, the Women and the Web report revealed that in developing countries, 25percent fewer women are online than men, and in sub-Saharan Africa, the gap rises to 43% […]

An International Telecommunications Union (ITU) report shows that there are 200million fewer women online than their male counterparts and this figure could rise to 350m by 2018.
Also, the Women and the Web report revealed that in developing countries, 25percent fewer women are online than men, and in sub-Saharan Africa, the gap rises to 43% in the recent time.
When compared to men, women still have lower access to the internet as a report commissioned by Intel on the access to, and use of the Internet in low and middle income countries also indicated that women are at a disadvantage.
This informed Intel’s decision to introduce ‘She Will Connect Programme’ with the aim of helping girls and women to have access to the internet.
Through the ‘She Will Connect Programme’, the company has been in the forefront of educating young girls and women on maximum contributions toward economic and social development across the world.
At the recently concluded capacity building workshop on ICT for women journalists in Lagos, Nigeria, the country Managing Director, Intel West Africa, Mr. Olubunmi Ekundare stated Intel’s dedication to bring about positive change in the African Girl Child.
Stressing the importance of educating the girl child, he said, “Here at Intel, we believe, and I’m sure we all agree, that smart girls are the equivalent of a smart world. What we seek to do, more than encouraging you all, is to do your best in school and seize the opportunity to build a world where youth are inspired to be advocates for change.”
The Corporate Affairs Manager, Mr. Babatunde Akinola, explained that She Will Connect programme aims to close the gap for girls in terms of access to the internet and digital literacy.
He restated that the company will provide technical resources and expertise to deliver digital literacy training, online peer networks and gender relevant content to empower young girls and women in Nigeria.
Akinola explained that She Will Connect hopes to have reached five million women and girls across Africa by 2020, empowering them to get and stay online and help others like them, thereby reducing the gender gap by 50%.
He said the firm is working with  an ecosystem of partners to close this gap globally, beginning in Africa through the She Will Connect program.
According to him, Intel believes that when girls and women are connected to the world through technology, they are connected to a world of opportunity. 
At the global level, he said Intel is partnering with The Rockefeller Foundation, WorldPulse, UN women, World Vision, Smart women and USAID alongside local partners such as the Women in Technology in Nigeria (WITIN), the Youth Technology Foundation, Women Technology Empowerment Centre (WTECH).
Akinola who implored other technology companies like Microsoft, Coca-Cola and others informed that 13000 girls have been trained under the programme between July 2015 and May, 2015 in Nigeria.
He urged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and other stakeholders to address the bottlenecks involved in infrastructure deployment into the remote part of the country so as to allow the initiative get to all nooks and crannies of Nigeria.
Akinola hinted that to reinforce the She Will Connect initiative, Intel will launch the internet.org to increase the awareness on digital literacy as well as Intel’s learn mobile skills app  on Android inform of a solo game in August, this year with the aim of enabling girls to peer and share experiences.