Togo: Women and Adolescents Embrace Technology for Development | WPN World People News

On June 17th, the third panafrican conference on best practices in ICT in francophone Africa opened in Ouagadougou, Burkina-Faso [fr]. While the conference focused on strategies to curb cyber-criminality, the Togolese blogosphere is embracing the potential of information technology for development, especially women and young people.

Reflecting on the conference, Sylvanus Abano, blogging at togo-presse-liberte, reports that Hamadoun Touré, SG of l’Union internationale de télécommunication [UIT] warned against the danger of cyber-criminality:

Cyber-crimes cost 100 billions dollars every year and we are more vulnerable that we think.

Togozine, an influential Togolese online platform, interviewed Roger Kpakote, an informatician and CEO of RTK Groupe in Lomé on the development of ICT in his country:

Mr Kpakote and his friends created OPIM, the Organization for the Promotion of Internet and Mobile (technology) in Togo [..] OPIM wants to promote the use of information technology for all social classes in the country. He also wish to create an international technological pole in Togo dedicated to promote Biotechnology and information technology. Many projects are currently in preparation mode such as the first Barcamp in Togo.

On the OPIM blog, Mr Kpakote describes his recipe for success in the field of information technology:

One must have three key elements: the content producers ( including journalists), the entrepreneurs and the developers [..] The key aspect is that one has to be present on the internet, be useful to a lot of people and bare the fruits of such contributions later. Those conditions have not come together yet in Africa.

Muriel , a student in Lome, thinks that, despite the early challenges, there is hope for Togolese women in the field of ICT:

Women must embrace this new world despite the challenges to adoption. It is specifically important for the African society and therefore African women who must work actively to seize all the opportunities that new technology has to offer.

Claudine Assiba Akapko writes at length about the role of women in sustaining peace in Africa:

Women and children represent more than 3/4 of the 40 millions displaced people after crisis or violents conflicts on our continent. African women have an important role to play. It is critical that we implicate them in the negotiation and peace building process [..]
How can women get more involved in the peace building process?
1. Promote women participation in peace negotiation because women often encouter strong resistance when they do.
2. Increase women participation by placing women in positions of decision-making in peace building and national reconciliation.
3. Train women in negotiation techniques.
4. More just and better education for young girls: reinforcing young girls skills through education is a must.

Young people are also starting to made forays into the world of blogging. On the Médias Jeunesse et Développement Blog, Marie discusses the importance of reaching out to less privileged children when it comes to new media:

In African countries, there are two kinds of children: the ones who can read and those who can't. The literate ones often come from well-off families who already have an education whereas the poor ones don't often have this opportunity [..] The incorporation of children in media groups will allow them to give testimonies about their situations and defend their rights.

On the same platform, Détogra Jérôme also weighs in and the advantages of getting children to participate:

Participating allow them to give their opinion on the resolution of problems in their community so that they can grow along with the community. The greatest success of these initiatives is that children can imagine their future and share their ideas through new medias [..] One must note that at first, our parents wer enot really on board but after seeing our production, they knew that it was for our benefit.

Source: Gloval Voice