There is this another cheering news that the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State had just successfully trained one hundred and fourteen (114) indigent girls, women and boys in the rural areas in Information Communication Technology (ICT) at the newly established State Tech Hub and Youth Innovation Centre in Obollo Afor, Udenu Local Government Area of the state.
In recent time there have been serious calls worldwide for equal treatments between the girl child and her male counterparts. These calls are systematically targeted at reducing the age long perceived imbalances between the male and the female genders otherwise referred to as gender inequalities or gender discriminations.
Sincerely speaking, the female gender had suffered and still suffer untold hardships and undeserved denials under different cultures and traditions, particularly in Africa, including Nigeria. Without sentiments, I make bold to say that all traces of discriminations in every manifestation based on gender constructs should be viewed as social maladies that deserve to be urgently redressed with all seriousness, as this is the only way to ensure an equitable, just, fair and egalitarian society for everyone, irrespective of gender differences.
The Governor’s policy of according the deserved attention and recognition to the Girl-child, particularly those in the rural areas, is an indication that the old era of deliberate relegation of the womenfolk to the background is over in Enugu State.
Of particular importance was the generosity of extending the massive ongoing youths development drive of Enugu State to the rural areas for the benefit of the indigent and the less privileged members of the State, as this further showed that Governor Ugwuanyi is truly a ‘Gburugburu’ leader of all Ndi Enugu State people.
Speaking during the graduation of the beneficiaries of the state Government ICT empowerment program, the General Manager of the Obollo Afor Tech Hub and Youth Innovation Centre, Dr. Emmanuel Uba Nwani rightly pointed out that one of the cardinal aims of Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration in establishing the centre was to empower the Girl-child by exposing them to the digital world through knowledge of computer applications and other digital intricacies, to enable them earn a living and become self reliant in the future.
It is important to mention here, that the 5 -Week Training was conducted free of charge at the cost of the State government in collaboration with some Technological Development organizations. Again, during the training, the trainees were exposed to Graphic designs, Software development, Web designing, Solar energy installations among others.
This particular gesture of Governor Ugwuanyi’s administration to train mostly the Girl-child as well as the vulnerable women and boys in the State for skills acquisitions in modern telecommunication infrastructure and general digital literacy would surely expose the beneficiaries to the wider world of modern technologies, particularly in computer system and applications, Microsoft windows, creation of the email addresses and browsing on the internet.
We appreciate the ongoing massive technological innovations of the State government, particularly now that Nigeria is working towards total Computer Based Tests (CBT) for all valid performance appraisals and assessments including SSCE, NECO, JAMB, Post UTME , MDA’s job Recruitments/Selections, Staff promotions, Interviews and testing of various Competencies.
In conclusion, I join our good people of Ndi-Enugu State to appreciate Governor Ugwuanyi for putting in place these wonderful empowerment packages in ICT for the Girl-child and the less privileged members in the society.
Bibian Anekwe news added; “Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results not attributes.”
Written by
OBODO COLLINS OKOLO
Deputy Corps Commander retired
A Sociopolitical Analyst
A Media Team Member of ENUGU DI N’AKACHUKWU MOVEMENT
