International Day of Girls in the ICT Sector: What Prospects for Young Guinean Girls?

Under the leadership of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Innovation, in partnership with other ministerial departments such as the Minister of Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, the HACKATHON final was held this Thursday, April 27, 2023 on the occasion of the international day of young girls in the information and communication technologies ICT sector at the Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry.

This event is part of an initiative launched on March 8 at the Mamou Higher Institute of Technologies by the Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation,Dr. Diaka Sidibéto promote the engagement of young girls in technological fields in the country's universities.  According to Dr Facinet Conté, secretary general of MESRSI, this event is a true showcase of innovation, entrepreneurship in the technology sector in a university environment and especially of young girls in Guinea.

Meeting of several young girls from universities

This competition brought together several groups of young girls from different universities across the country to reveal the challenge and win the grand prize at the end of the Hackathon.  “TheInformation and communication technologies is a field that holds me back because everything is logical, you have to program and this coding side is very exciting. Once in a programmer's life you can't do without it», explainsFatoumata M’Balou Camara student of license 3 in MIAGE at the Koffi Annan University of Guinea, finalist in this competition.

This hackathon is a marathon of ideas in the search for technological solutions for the promotion of local content. However, very few young girls venture into technical and scientific fields formerly reserved for men. “We have the impression that young girls are stigmatized especially in this sector, so this is an opportunity to remind all girls that they are as capable as men of joining all positions related to telecommunications and digital technology. This is why we are very proud to participate in this event and we believe that it will continue.», saysFatoumata Binta Diallo,communications director of the national agency for universal telecommunications and digital services.

Creating vocations among young girls

For the Dr. Alpha Kabinet Keita, rector of the General Abdel Nasser University of Conakry, through this initiative, young girls will make technology and technique their vocation.  “ Our institution, like higher education institutions, does everything possible to ensure that young girls feel comfortable in scientific disciplines. We create vocations among young girls. We are implementing an ecosystem that promotes their learning while removing the physical barriers erected in their heads that push them away from technical and scientific disciplines.he says.

Make young girls love technology

These initiatives will undoubtedly create vocations among young girls who are full of talent but who are hesitant to pursue careers in the fields of ICT.

Mamadou Kindy BAH