“We need to be serious about supporting and nurturing our girls if we are serious about building a better, stronger and fairer future.”
— Hillary Clinton
Books and policies may lay the foundation of a nation, but it is its people, especially empowered young girls who ignite lasting transformation. As we mark International Girls in ICT Day 2025, our attention turns to one of Africa’s most vibrant and often overlooked assets: its girls. In a world where technology drives opportunity and shapes destiny, girls cannot merely participate; they must lead, innovate, and transform. Now is the time to move from inclusion to intentional empowerment.
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This year’s theme, “Girls in ICT for Inclusive Digital Transformation,” isn’t just a slogan. It’s a global wake-up call, echoing through classrooms, boardrooms, and tech hubs across Africa. The world is digitizing at lightning speed, and the future belongs to those who are ready. Are Africa’s girls ready?
A Brief History: How the Movement Began
International Girls in ICT Day was launched by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in 2011. Since then, it has been observed every fourth Thursday in April, aiming to bridge the gender gap in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), with a particular focus on Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
From modest beginnings, the day has grown into a powerful movement that celebrates girls and women in tech, inspires role models, and encourages organizations and governments to break down systemic barriers. Over the years, it has led to thousands of events in more than 150 countries, reaching over 400,000 girls globally.
In 2025, the ITU, along with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Arab States regions, will host a global livestream, connecting young girls and thought leaders from Bishkek to Nouakchott, igniting inspiration across continents.
The Significance for Africa: Why It Matters
The significance of International Girls in ICT Day 2025 for Africa runs deeper than celebration, it’s about urgency. Africa is home to the world’s youngest population, with more than 70% of sub-Saharan Africa under the age of 30. And yet, African girls remain vastly underrepresented in digital and STEM careers.
According to UNESCO (2024), women make up only 30% of tech professionals in sub-Saharan Africa, with even fewer in leadership and decision-making roles. The gender digital divide in Africa is among the widest globally, with millions of girls lacking basic internet access, let alone digital literacy or advanced tech training.
But here lies the opportunity: equipping girls with ICT skills can unlock innovation, create jobs, and drive inclusive development. Girls bring creativity, resilience, and a deep understanding of their communities’ challenges. When we invest in their digital education, we’re not just changing their lives, we are transforming the entire continent.
From the Classroom to the Cloud: Bridging the Gap
From coding boot camps in Nigeria to robotics competitions in Kenya and digital literacy clubs in South Africa, local movements are rising. But systemic gaps remain: gender bias, lack of role models, and poor access to technology.
We need more programs, more investment, and more representation. African girls must see themselves as tech leaders, digital entrepreneurs, and app developers. Visibility is empowerment.
Turning Intent into Impact: What Africa Must Do Now
At the African Leadership Organization, we believe in a continent where every girl is empowered to dream boldly, learn passionately, and lead confidently, especially in the fast-evolving world of technology. We envision an Africa where a girl with a laptop can transform her community, and where digital literacy is not a luxury, but a right.
This International Girls in ICT Day 2025, we renew our commitment to championing inclusive digital transformation by calling on all sectors of society to take action:
• Governments must prioritize the integration of ICT and digital education into national curricula, starting as early as primary school. It is no longer enough to teach computer basics in secondary education. Girls must be introduced to coding, artificial intelligence, robotics, and digital entrepreneurship from a young age—creating a strong pipeline of female tech talent who are ready to innovate and lead.
• Private sector leaders must step forward to fund structured mentorship programs, industry internships, and targeted scholarships that uplift girls and young women in tech-related fields. Support should extend beyond short-term projects to long-term partnerships that enable access to resources, networks, and career growth. A digital future is only inclusive when girls have real pathways to enter and thrive in it.
• Tech companies must make intentional efforts to recruit, retain, and elevate women in leadership roles within the ICT sector. This includes implementing diversity hiring policies, cultivating inclusive workplace cultures, and offering leadership development programs designed for women. Representation matters, and girls need to see women at the forefront of tech innovation and decision-making.
• Parents and communities must be encouraged to nurture curiosity, challenge stereotypes, and support their daughters’ digital ambitions. Girls should be taught not only how to use technology, but how to create it—how to code, design apps, build platforms, and solve real-world problems using digital tools. Families and local leaders play a vital role in fostering the confidence and ambition needed to break through gendered barriers.
Because when girls lead in tech, everyone benefits.
Africa’s Digital Destiny Rests the African Daughters
The story of Africa’s digital transformation is still unfolding—and girls must be at the center of every chapter. On this International Girls in ICT Day 2025, let us not only inspire but act. Because an inclusive digital Africa is not possible without girls.
Let’s teach her. Equip her. Mentor her. Trust her.
Because Africa’s girls are Africa’s power.
