W.TEC Selected as WSIS 2020 Champion

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W.TEC is pleased to have been selected as a 2020 WSIS Champion in Category 3 (Access to Information and Knowledge).
The WSIS Prizes contest was developed in response to requests from the WSIS (World Summit on the Information Society) stakeholders to create an effective mechanism to evaluate projects and activities that leverage the power of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to advance sustainable development. Since its inception, the contest of WSIS Prizes has attracted more than 300,000 stakeholders.
W.TEC was recognised as a Champion for our work giving Nigerian girls and women the skills, knowledge and opportunity to participate equitably in the information and digital society.
Over the last 12 and a half years, W.TEC has encouraged over 31,000 girls and women across Nigeria, to pursue STEM careers and we supported women to use technology confidently to increase their economic power and ability to speak about issues affecting their lives.
The awards ceremony typically takes place during the annual WSIS Forum and is co-organized by  International Telecommunications Union (ITU), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).  In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 edition of the WSIS Forum went completely virtual. Despite this, the forum was a success with more than 130 sessions and more than 12,000 participants from around the world, this year’s virtual format really showcased the power of ICT’s.
This years WSIS Champions had the opportunity to give messages of appreciation and share stories from their work during a special interactive session organised with the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Mr. Houlin Zhao.
W.TEC’s Executive Director, Ms. Oreoluwa Lesi thanked WSIS for their recognition of our work and highlighted key facts about the gender gap in technology, which emphasises the big work that still needs to be done to improve women’s ability to participate in and contribute effectively to the global information society.
Mr. Houlin Zhao, in his closing remarks, spoke about the importance of closing the gender inequity in technology and commended W.TEC on our work.
Photos from the session can be viewed here: https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/forum/2020/Agenda/Session/372
The video recording of the session can be viewed here (Oreoluwa Lesi’s remarks start from 19:58): https://web.facebook.com/WSISprocess/videos/319907055899370
 
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