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Mastercard’s Girls4Tech Hits 1 Million Milestone  

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Mastercard’s signature STEM program, Girls4Tech has reached its initial milestone goal of educating one million girls.

 

The Company also announced a new and inspiring goal to reach five million girls by 2025 with signature STEM program.

 

The technology company’s signature program, which launched in 2014, offers activities and curriculum built on global science and math standards – and incorporates Mastercard’s deep expertise in technology and innovation – to enable children to discover a range of STEM careers, such as fraud detective, data scientist and software engineer.

 

The Girls4Tech workshops hosted across Kenya and Nigeria have inspired numerous young girls to build the skills they need for STEM careers.

 

Ifeoma Dozie, director, Marketing and Communications, Sub-Saharan Africa at Mastercard, said “Through the Girls4Tech programme, we’re extending our commitment to Africa’s next generation of women leaders by equipping them with valuable skills that ensure more women have a voice in the development of the products and services of the future”.

 

Starting as a hands-on, in-person session run by employee volunteers, the program has reached more children by expanding into new topics such as AI and Cybersecurity, and extending access of their STEM curriculum through online resources on Girls4Tech Connect which has been translated into fourteen languages.

 

Susan Warner, vice president of community engagement and founder of Mastercard’s Girls4Tech program said, “Our goal is to build foundational STEM knowledge and develop critical 21stcentury skills girls need for their studies and career success.

“Our program sparks their curiosity in STEM and teaches them real-world applications of those skills.”

 

How Girls4Tech reaches future STEMinists

Announced a new partnership to create a Girls4Tech digital curriculum with Discovery Education — the global leader in standards-aligned digital curriculum resources, engaging content, and professional learning for K-12 classrooms — to reach 1.6 million girls by 2023.

 

Partnering with scalable organizations such as AIF, Be Better China, Discovery Education, Major League Baseball, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), R&A, Scholastic and YCAB in Indonesia to further scale the program and offer STEM skills in unique ways to girls ages 8-16.

 

Adding new curriculum to give students deeper exposure to the growing fields of cybersecurity and AI.

 

Extending programs, Girls4Tech 2.0 for girls aged 13-16, as well as a 20-week coding program, Girls4Tech & Code for girls 8-10.

 

Moving the needle for Girls in STEM

In 2019, Mastercard commissioned a study seeking to understand gender and generational differences surrounding perceptions and attitudes of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). In addition to STEM-based topics, the survey investigated challenges and motivations to pursing college majors and careers path.

 

The study showed that females are less confident, receive less encouragement and need more mentors in STEM. Mastercard’s Girls4Tech program provides each of those elements to young women.


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

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Halilu Tasks NASENI Finance Managers On Effective Resource Management

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Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO), National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), has underscored the importance of effective resource management, emphasizing the Agency’s responsibility in administering public funds for the benefit of Nigeria.

L-R: Coordinating Director, Engineering Infrastructure Directorate, NASENI, Prof Bagudu Gwandangaji; Support Officer/NASEN Desk Officer, OAGF, Mr. Mustapha Marafa; Deputy Programme Manager, System Support and Sustainability Directorate, OAGF, Mr. Jeremiah Asanato; Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu; Coordinating Director, Finance and Accounts, NASENI, Alh Ibrahim Baba Dauda; Coordinating Director, Science Infrastructure Directorate, NASENI, Prof Umaru Gaya during a one-day sensitization workshop on Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) policy and guidelines for financial managers organised by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation held at NASENI Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.

The EVC stated this while declaring open one-day sensitization workshop on Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) policy and guidelines for financial managers of NASENI in collaboration with the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) held at the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.

The workshop was aimed at enhancing financial management practices for NASENI principal officers, directors, managing directors and accounting officers system-wide.

Urging the participants to take the workshop with all sense of purpose, the EVC/CEO called for accurate financial record-keeping and the adoption of innovative processes which remain integral in the GIFMIS policy. He stressed the significance of staff training and capacity development to ensure the discharge of duties to make NASENI a preferred public sector employer in Nigeria.

While warning staff on classified documents, Mr. Halilu said confidentiality in financial management is a crucial aspect and called for strict adherence to public service regulations regarding the integrity of official information.

He further emphasized the Agency’s 3Cs initiative of Collaboration, Creation, and Commercialization as NASENI’s core operating principles, expressing confidence in achieving the Agency’s goals in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The Deputy Programme Manager, System Support and Sustainability Directorate, OAGF, Mr. Jeremiah Asanato, giving overview of the GIFMIS, said it is aimed at integrating budgeting and government expenditure. He emphasized that the policy will help to address irregularities, corruption, and other fraudulent activities in government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

In his vote of thanks, Coordinating Director,Finance and Accounts, NASENI, Alh. Ibrahim Baba Dauda, appreciated all Finance and Accounts Directorate staff from across NASENI centres system-wide for attending the workshop. He challenged them to start thinking of making NASENI an independent revenue-generating agency.


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Annual General Meeting: Nigeria Set to Host the 2025 Edition of the Network of African Data Protection Authorities’ Conference

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Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) is to host the 10th edition of the prestigious Network of African Data Protection Authorities’ (NADPA-RADPA) Conference and Annual General Meeting.

This significant decision was made during the 9th NADPA Annual General Meeting held in Nairobi, Kenya, where Nigeria, through NDPC under the exemplary leadership of the National Commissioner/CEO, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, emerged as the successful bidder to host this prestigious event.

The Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA-RAPDP), founded in Ouagadougou in September 2016, consists of 23 (Twenty-Three) Data Protection Authorities across Africa. Its primary objective is to establish a platform for exchanges and cooperation among its members while amplifying Africa’s voice in global partnerships.

Nigeria joined the network in 2022 and has been actively engaged since then, including taking on the role of coordinator for the Regulatory Harmonization working group during the recently concluded annual general meeting in 2024.

The 9th NADPA–RADPA Conference and Annual General Meeting, hosted by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner in Nairobi, Kenya, was marked by an impressive turnout, with over 1500 individuals and organizations in attendance.

Noteworthy participants included multinational corporations such as Google, Amazon Web Services, EY and Microsoft, as well as development partners which included the European Union, German Corporation, GIZ, and Digital Transformation Center among others.

The 2025 edition will serve as a pivotal platform for Data Protection Authorities from across Africa to convene, collaborate, and share insights on emerging trends, challenges, and best practices within the data protection and privacy ecosystem.

Furthermore, it will bolster Nigeria’s economic growth by attracting Foreign Direct Investments and contribute to the enhancement of the country’s tourism sector by providing delegates with opportunities to explore its offerings.

Moreover, hosting such a prestigious event will elevate Nigeria’s reputation as a hub for innovation, research, and academic excellence, thereby attracting additional investment and talent, while serving as a prime opportunity to showcase the country’s diverse industries, products, and services to a global audience.

Additionally, the conference will facilitate capacity building and skill development in digital technologies, empowering individuals and organizations with the knowledge and tools required to thrive in the current global digital economy.

As the host country, Nigeria is deeply honored to welcome esteemed delegates and participants to this significant gathering. The conference serves as more than just a platform for sharing insights, it highlights Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to advancing data protection principles and fostering international cooperation in this crucial field.

Collaborating with various Government Agencies, Multinational Corporations, and Development Partners, NDPC is poised to co-host this event. With its multifaceted agenda, the conference promises to ignite growth, foster collaboration, and drive advancement within the data protection landscape and beyond.


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Sustainability Meets Luxury As QNET’s Bernhard H. Mayer Introduces OMNI Watch

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Bernhard H. Mayer, QNET’s esteemed luxury brand, on Wednesday announced the launch of the OMNI Watch, a pioneering addition to its exquisite collection that blends top-tier elegance with environmental consciousness. As part of the launch, QNET has reinforced its commitment to sustainability by partnering with eco-focused organizations to plant trees for every OMNI Watch sold, amplifying the brand’s impact on global reforestation efforts.

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The OMNI Watch comes in seven distinct variants, each featuring straps made from Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) and bodies crafted from 85% recycled steel. This design not only exemplifies durability and flexibility but also showcases the brand’s dedication to reducing environmental impact, aligning with the latest consumer preferences for sustainable luxury products.

“In developing the OMNI Watch, we were driven by our vision of integrating eco-friendly practices with our longstanding tradition of excellence in watchmaking. This product is for those who want it all – style, sophistication, and a sustainable lifestyle,” said Trevor Kuna, Chief Transformation & Reputation Officer at QNET.

To kickstart the tree-planting initiative, 1,500 trees have already been planted — 500 in Cairo, Egypt, in collaboration with Shagarha, and 1,000 in Amizmiz, Morocco, in partnership with the High Atlas Foundation. These efforts are part of QNET’s larger Green Legacy Programme, a reforestation campaign that has successfully planted over 10,000 trees worldwide in the past two years.

“Each OMNI Watch sold translates directly into more trees planted, further enhancing our global canopy and contributing to the communities we serve. Through these actions, we reaffirm our commitment to the planet and our customers, ensuring that our luxury products leave a positive legacy,” added Kuna.

Amina El Hajjami, Director of Programs for the High Atlas Foundation, emphasized the scale and future potential of this initiative: “Planting trees plays a crucial role in our commitment to preserving biodiversity and advancing sustainable practices. With QNET’s invaluable support, we’ve achieved significant environmental benefits in the Amizmiz region.

“The planting of these initial 1,500 trees marks just the beginning. We are eager to intensify our efforts, planting additional trees in the coming months to further our environmental objectives.”

The OMNI Watch is available for purchase through QNET’s exclusive distribution network, offering consumers around the world a chance to partake in luxury that leads to a greener tomorrow.


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