An effort to empower women and girls while connecting them to opportunities for personal growth, technology giant, Intel Corporation, has launched a new radio show and a features column on a top Nigerian blog. The initiative has demonstrated Intel’s commitment to empowering girls and women by not only providing digital literacy skills to girls and women, but also by pushing the concept of digital literacy forward through new, innovative and scalable models The radio show tagged ‘She Will Connect radio show’, which is a part of Intel’s She Will Connect programme, is targeted at helping young girls and women access an innovative combination of digital literacy training, online peer network, and gender-relevant content. Speaking at the unveiling of the radio programme and column, the Public Relations and Marketing Manager, Intel West Africa, Adim Isiakpona, disclosed that the programme is expected to bring millions of women online, and reduce the gap in access to internet and digital literacy skills for young women by up to 50%, while also connecting millions of women to new opportunities through technology. According to Isiakpona, “Girls and women are an important part in the growth of any economy and the She Will Connect programme has gone a long way to reach and enable them to do more. “ Intel will continue to drive momentum into its She Will Connect programme. We want to use this radio show and the column on Bella Naija, to empower several girls and women by closing the gender gap in education access, inspiring more girls and women to become creators of technology, and connecting girls and women to opportunity through technology access.” , he explained. Commenting on the success of the empowerment programme, She Will Connect Ambassador, Titilope Sonuga, observed that several girls and women have been enabled and connected to endless opportunities that abound online through the programme. “Working with strategic NGOs, we have equipped girls and women with digital skills, from basic knowledge of computer operations, computer programming and software development. We are optimistic that the She Will Connect radio show on Women FM and the blog posts will further address gender relevant issues and help to close the technology gender gap”. Titilope Sonuga, who is a renowned poet, actress and a Civil engineer will be the face and voice of the She Will Connect Radio show and the blog column, called ‘Through Her Eyes’.
