Cisco has hosted a dedicated CSR initiative designed to help boost the future outlook of young women throughout Nigeria, in line with the International Girls in ICT Day. With a focus on equipping female students with Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) skills, Cisco is imparting vocational training to prepare them to become members of the global 21st century workforce.
Twenty female students drawn from secondary schools across Nigeria were invited to spend the day with Cisco Nigeria leaders at Cisco offices in Lagos, to gain an understanding of the opportunities the ICT sector holds for their future and a deeper insight into professional fields and courses of study that may be overlooked when choosing a career.
The International Girls in ICT Day is an initiative supported by International Telecommunications Union to create a global environment that empowers and encourages girls and young women to consider careers in the growing field of information and communication technologies (ICTs), and is celebrated on the 4th Thursday in April every year. 48 Cisco offices participated in this initiative across the Europe, Middle East, Africa and Russia (EMEAR) region.
CSR Manager, English West and Central, Cisco Corporate Affairs, Imoh Akpan stated that “Mentoring and training programs aimed at young talented females in Lagos is vital to helping our young workforce of the future to adapt and secure career opportunities in the global 21st century workforce. The country’s growing youth population needs to be equipped with the right skills to help them thrive in this ever changing world.”
Now in its third year, Cisco has been participating in International Girls in ICT Day from its inception. Guest speaker present at this year’s event in Lagos was the Head Sales, MainOne Cable Company, Bolanle Ogundogba who shared her experience and highlighted the various types of professions in the sector that the female-folk can have rewarding careers in.
