By Peter Oriri
In commemoration of International Girls in ICT Day 2025, the lawmaker representing Rivers West Senatorial District, Senator Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, joins the global community in celebrating girls and young women in technology. She extends her heartfelt felicitations and encouragement to girls around the world, recognizing their potential to shape the future of the digital age.
This year’s theme, “*Girls in ICT for Inclusive Digital Transformation,” *observed on April 24th, 2025, underscores the need to bridge the digital gender divide by fostering greater participation of girls and women in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector.
Senator Banigo, who serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Deputy Chairman of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, urged young girls to embrace careers in ICT, noting that the industry is at the forefront of innovation and development, transforming lives and economies globally.
Also, as the first female Deputy Governor of Rivers State and a Harvard-trained public health physician, Senator Banigo affirmed her position to proposing and supporting legislation that will create inclusive opportunities and empower more girls to thrive in the digital economy.
She also emphasized the importance of mentorship, access to digital education, and community-based programs that can expose girls especially in underserved areas to the possibilities that lie within the tech world. “We must provide platforms and safe spaces where girls can learn, lead, and innovate,”.
The International Girls in ICT Day is celebrated to create more awareness on the need for more girls and women in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector.
