Young women and girls have been urged not only to be users of technology but to be creators, innovators who shape the digital future.
This was revealed by Zimbabwe’s Minister of ICT, Tatenda Mavetera, during the International Girls in ICT Day at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Bulawayo.
Over 1,500 bright young women from different schools and colleges in Bulawayo and Matabeleland gathered on the day.
The day ran under the theme, “AI Development – Girls Shaping the Digital Future.”
“This day is about more than technology, it is about changing mindsets.
“For too long, our girls have been seen (and have seen themselves) only as users of technology.
“We are building a movement where young women and girls are the creators, the innovators, and the leaders shaping Zimbabwe’s digital future.
“I challenged the students to own their space in the ICT world, and their response was electric.
“As your Minister of ICTPCS, I will continue to champion programmes that give every girl, no matter her background, the tools to succeed in the digital economy.
“The talent we witnessed yesterday proves that the future of tech in Zimbabwe is not only bright, it is female.
“A big thank you to NUST and Potraz for hosting us and to all the teachers, mentors, and partners who made this day memorable. Let us keep the conversation going,” she said.
