In a move aimed at empowering the girl child,
the world's leading silicone innovator and semi-conductor manufacturer, Intel
has partnered with a local child rights advocacy group, Foundation for
Corporate Social Responsibility and Children's Rights (CSR Children) on a
symposium.
The symposium will be held in Lagos this
weekend.
The event is tagged "Preparing Girls for
a Scientific Future" in celebration of this year's just-commemorated
International Day of the Girl Child.
The development is in line with its global
campaign to bridge the gender gap in technology by promoting digital literacy
and equipping girls for careers in Science, Technology and Mathematics.
Chief Executive Officer of CSR Children,
Toyin Olakanpo, observed that the socio-cultural, economic and political
factors impeding equal access to science and technology education in
sub-Saharan Africa remained unaddressed despite increased awareness over the
past decade.
"At CSR Children, we have come to
realise that the many obstacles to effective education of the girl child in
Africa will not be surmounted by governments and their institutions. The
challenge requires a firm commitment from socially responsible corporate
citizens who understand the dangers of having a huge part of our population
unable to function properly in a technology-dependent world," Olakanpo
said.
The Group Manager, Corporate Affairs at
Intel, Babatunde Akinola, highlighted Intel's contributions to the quest for
gender equality in the world of Science and Technology.
"We will continue to lead the way in the
drive for gender parity in the world of technology, equip young girls with and
women with digital literacy skills and an improved understanding of
technology," said Akinola.
The local initiative if part of Intel's
"She Will Connect" project, which is a mission to close the gender
divide by empowering 5 million girls globally in the next five years.
-AllAfrica
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