The maiden edition of the Women Entrepreneurs & Executives in Tech Summit which was held last week at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, had key stakeholders and experts drawing up 14 key recommendations.
These recommendations, which formed the Communiqué of the summit, according to the experts, will alter the perception that roles of Information and Communications Technology are majorly for men, adding that when implemented by the government and private sector players, women’s ego will be boosted to take up ICT roles.
The Women Entrepreneurs & Executives in Tech Summit with the theme: ‘Future Tech Trends, Challenges and Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs’ was organized by TechLife Media and Communications Limited and powered by TechLife with Ugo.
Organisers of the event said the essence of the Summit, was to brainstorm on the place of Nigerian women in the emerging world of technology and how they have fared in recent times while expanding new ideas in ICT and Telecoms.
The Recommendations:
- The government needs to provide definite policy direction on digital agenda pursuit that carries women along.
- The banks (Bank of Industry) need to give more support to start-ups, especially women entrepreneurs. When funding is available, there should be a mechanism to communicate their availability to women and how to access them.
- Government and telecom regulators must identify gaps in capacity building for women. The establishment of the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) and Innovation Fund for universities should be a veritable platform to empower women in Nigeria.
- The government and the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy should identify initiatives to support women.
- Women should be encouraged to participate in ICT skill training. This will help them to appreciate the benefits of networking.
- Women should build their skillsets very often so that they can meet up with their male counterparts.
- Women are encouraged to build their personal and business brands so they can stand out. They should take risks and see challenges as part of life.
- They should also support themselves by going into partnership, even with their male counterparts.
- Spot the opportunity and be inspired…. Think Big X10 the idea and take action.
- No sympathy and sentiments – Women should create value for them to be recognized.
- The government needs to encourage capacity building in sciences by supporting female students and university lecturers majoring in technical courses through innovation funding.
- To build a pool of tech entrepreneurs in Nigeria, each established women entrepreneur must mentor at least 10 women entrepreneurs.
- Becoming an entrepreneur is all about problem-solving. Women should not go into entrepreneurship if they are not ready to solve societal challenges.
- Women must begin to take up roles and responsibilities in society. They should show up and be known. That is the only way they can contribute to policies that can grow and change society.
