Diamond Bank partners WTEC to provide ICT training for women

Diamond Bank has just concluded a six month training program on information and communications technology (ICT) for 100 young women in Ibadan, Oyo State. Held in collaboration with Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (WTEC), the training saw the young women learn over a six-month period the essential ICT skills required for a successful career.

Commenting on the reason for hosting the program, Ayona Trimnell, Head, Corporate Communications Division, Diamond Bank said the Bank’s decision to embark on the project was borne out of the need to empower the participants with life changing skills that will ensure that they will live independent lives.

“Diamond Bank’s decision to embark on this training is a demonstration of our passion for youth development. We believe that today’s youth hold the key to the future and our businesses can only thrive and face the challenges ahead if we invest in their training. Hence, an investment in their training is an investment in our future and will definitely pay off in the establishment of sustainable businesses,” she said

The training program was concluded with a graduation ceremony which was attended by officials of the Bank, staff of WTEC, representatives of the IT- facilitating partner -New Age Technologies -as well as the students.

Speaking at the event, Oluropo Olarenwaju, Regional Manager -Ibadan Businesses, Diamond Bank PLC, said, “This year, we choose to focus on women because statistics show an underrepresentation of women in ICT. This underutilisation of talent only serves to dampen ICT innovation, slow economic development and contribute to women’s economic and social marginalization. In order to address this imbalance, we found able collaborators in WTEC.”

This initiative joins a list of capacity development initiatives spearheaded by the Bank in fulfilment of two of its Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility (CSR) focus areas namely: Young Adult Development and Women’s Wealth and wellbeing.

It will be recalled that the Bank collaborated with LEAP Africa in 2013 to provide ICT training for 100 youth at the University of Uyo. The beneficiaries were also trained on leadership and other skills required for personal and community transformation.

In 2014, Diamond Bank executed a similar program in Aba, Abia State which was tagged ‘Life in Aba’. Through this program, 100 youth from the Aba and its environs benefitted from the training.

 

JUMOKE AKIYODE