Women and Girls in Cyber Conference Aims to Bridge Gender Gap
Malawi's First Lady emphasizes the need to include women in the digital space during a women and girls in cyber conference.
LILONGWE, MALAWI —Malawi's First Lady, Monica Chakwera, opened a four-day conference on Tuesday aimed at bridging the gender gap in cyber security, writes Maureen Kawerama.
The conference, which is being held at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe, is under the theme "Bridging the Gender Gap and Breaking the Glass Ceiling."
Chakwera said that the conference is an important opportunity to equip young girls and women with the skills and knowledge they need to protect themselves in the digital space.
She also urged the government and private sectors to look at women as critical participants in the cyber security sector.
Minister of Information and Digitalization Moses Kunkuyu echoed Chakwera's sentiments, saying that there is a wide gap in the cyber security sector, with only 30% of women being active participants.
He encouraged both the government and private sectors to create more opportunities for women in the sector.
The conference is being attended by participants from Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Sierra Leone, and Ghana.
They will be sharing their experiences and knowledge on how to bridge the gender gap in cyber security.
The conference is expected to have a significant impact on the future of women in cyber security in Malawi and across the region.
It will help raise awareness of the importance of women's participation in the sector, and provide women with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.