Mobile Telecommunications Ltd (MTC) hosted the second edition of the MTC Women in Tech Conference in Windhoek.
The two-day, women-led initiative aimed to empower women and enhance their visibility in the tech industry.
“Achieving gender parity in sectors like IT is crucial for fostering fair, competitive, and egalitarian practices. The conference addressed various critical topics, including career growth, mental health, social media visibility, emerging technologies, mobile technologies, and financial literacy. In many of these areas, men are still more prominently represented,†MTC said.
Global data indicates that as of 2020, around 50% of African women have limited access to the internet and this significant gender gap hinders their access to information, products, and technology.
“Conferences like Women in Tech are essential for championing equality by highlighting women’s occupational challenges and emphasizing their importance,†MTC said.
Albertine Shipena, speaking on “Avoiding Mental SPAM,†underscored the need for women to mentor and support each other, even at the risk of their own reputations.
“Women sponsoring and advocating for their peers in IT and tech is a critical step towards workplace equity,†Shipena said.
Nashilongo Gervasius and Prof. Anicia Peters also emphasized the importance of such tech-based conferences for women in Namibia.
“Female tech innovators are often recognized internationally, yet their voices are less heard locally,†they noted.
Dr. Monica Nehemia, MTC Chief Technical & Information Officer, highlighted the growing presence of women in the ICT sector.
“It is inspiring to see women excelling in software development, hardware understanding, and coding. Their confidence and ideas contribute significantly to the IT field and inspire young girls interested in IT. Representation matters. Seeing women in IT leadership roles motivates and empowers aspiring female tech professionals,†Dr. Nehemia said.
“Promoting female voices in IT through events like the MTC Women in Tech Conference not only empowers current women in tech but also inspires the next generation of female leaders.â€
