NIGERIA – Nigeria’s retail lender, Unity Bank Plc, has collaborated with AltSchool Africa to sponsor female students towards the acquisition of specialist software skills.
This partnership is in commemoration of International Women’s Day (IWD) 2022 and an empowerment initiative to boost the capacity of the female gender.
AltSchool Africa is a school for individuals looking to gain technical skills and kick start a career in Software Engineering.
Unity Bank Plc is providing funds to encourage enrolment of young female students into AltSchool who will pursue a career in informational technology.
The Bank said in a statement that the gesture has become imperative to #BreakTheBias against women in the emerging information technology industry.
According to a report less than 30 percent of technology companies in Nigeria are owned by women, even as the female members of the entire tech ecosystem workforce constituted less than 20 percent.
The partners’ initiative to extend the scholarships to young women looking to start a career in the IT industry is aligned with the theme of the IWD 2022, #BreakTheBias.
The partnership also is in tandem with the Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability initiative targeting education and empowerment.
“The International Women’s Day is yet another opportunity to re-examine the critical role that women continue to play in building a peaceful and prosperous society,” said, Mrs. Tomi Somefun, Unity Bank’s Managing Director.
“Today, more than ever before, we are confronted by the harsh realities of gender-based exclusivity, especially in the workplace.”
According to Mrs. Somefun, the advancement in technology has created a new world order that must be deliberate about inclusivity, removing biases, and unlearning stereotypes.
She acknowledged the progress made to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusivity to empower women to take an active part in creating a better society.
According to her, the success is momentary and women should not be distracted because, over the next decade, the share of jobs requiring medium to digital skills would have risen to more than 50 percent.
This years’ theme #BreakTheBias “imagines a gender-equal world, a world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination; a world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive; a world where difference is valued and celebrated.”
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