International Girls in ICT Day 2023

Inter- Generational Dialogue and Open Discussion

This year and every year, ITU and partners work together to inspire and encourage girls to pursue a future in ICTs towards bridging the gender digital divide. The aim is to encourage young women and girls to pursue their studies and careers in science, engineering, technology, mathematics, and other fields and help them achieve their dreams.

This year, the theme of Girls in ICT Day is ‘Digital Skills for Life’. The global Girls in ICT event was celebrated on 27 April in Zimbabwe as part of the Transform Africa Summit 2023, in coordination and collaboration with the Postal and Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) and Smart Africa.

The global celebration included a series of events that ran during the day as part of the summit and addressed different topics related to Digital Skills i.e., role models, education, mentorship, and youth participation. The events built onto the various initiatives of the ITU that not only seek to achieve digital gender equality but also would address the importance of education and connectivity.

Girls in ICT Day is now a global movement, with ITU partners and other organizations conducting their own events and celebrations on the Girls in ICT Day and throughout the year.

Event details:

  • Date: 27 April 2023 
  • Time: 12:30-13:30  Harare/Geneva time  (GMT+2) 
  • Venue: Elephants Hills Hotel. Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe  

This was a hybrid event and was live streamed on 27 April 2023

Programme Agenda 

Program Director

Sibonginkosi Muteyiwa

12:30 – 12:35

Introduction and setting the scene

Sicelo Dube & Tutsi Jenje
STEM Ambassadors

12:35-12:40

Fireside starter

Ruth Nibitanga,
Inspirational speaker, participant from the ITU-EIF project “Tech as a Driver of Women’s Economic Opportunity” in Burundi

Segment 1 

12:40 – 12:50

Opening Ceremony  

  • Welcoming remarks by ITU BDT Director, Dr. Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava
  • Keynote Speech by ITU Secretary General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin
  • Remarks by the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, H.E. Dr. Evelyn Ndlovu (MP), Zimbabwe
  • Remarks by the Minister of Innovation and Technology, Postal and Courier Services, H.E. Dr. Jenfan Muswere (MP), Zimbabwe

Segment 2 

12:50 – 13:05

Inter- Generational Dialogue and Open Discussion

The dialogue shared experiences and inspire the young girls to share their stories in respect to challenges, opportunities, and prospects for careers in the field of STEM.

  • Khanimnisa Ismayilova, Generation Connect Youth Envoy, Azerbaijan
  • Tsedeniya Namrud Abebe, Head of Digital Capacity Building and Public Engagement Unit, Ministry of Innovation and Technology, Ethiopia
  • Digital Opportunity Trust (Joining remotely)
  • Winner of the competition
  • MTN Group

13:10 – 13:20

Highlights: Awards session

Segment 3 

13:20 – 13:30

Closing Remarks

  •  Antonio Pedro,
    Acting Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) (Joining remotely)
  • SMART AFRICA