Svenja Schulze, Germany's Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, spoke out on the digital gender gap during the celebration of International Girls in ICT Day hosted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) at the Transform Africa Summit in Zimbabwe. Schulze called for governments to invest in policies that support women and girls.
Schulze highlighted the importance of working together to bridge the digital gender gap and ensure that no one is left behind in the digital future. ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin expressed concern about the low representation of women in digital ministerial positions in Africa. She pointed out that only 16% of digital ministers in Africa are female, even though women make up half of the continent's population.
The Minister of Communication and Digitization in Ghana, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, emphasized the need for women to be included in all decisions made in boardrooms. She also stated that exposing as many girls as possible to the ICT sector is important for empowering them.
In conclusion, the celebration of International Girls in ICT Day emphasized the importance of investing in policies that support women and girls, encouraging more women to take up leadership positions in tech firms and ICT boardrooms, and exposing girls to the ICT sector. By working together, we can bridge the digital gender gap and ensure that everyone benefits from the digital future.
