Africa, Tech & Women: The New Faces of Development” panelists TMS Ruge and Liz Ngonzi discuss the role of women in Africa’s tech space.
Led by Project Diaspora co-founder TMS Ruge, the hour-long discussion shed a different light on the role of women on the continent. The panel featured other notable figures as Vice President of InMobi Africa Isis Nyong’o and Ebele Okobi of Yahoo!.
A School of Information Studies (iSchool) graduate who applies her iSchool background to help African women and girls empower themselves through technology is presenting on “Africa, Tech & Women – The New Faces of Development” at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive Conference in Austin, TX, on Monday, March 12.
Elizabeth “Liz” Ngonzi (IST, B.S.,’92) described the panel as offering “a rare glimpse into the multitude of ways African women are applying technology to advance Africa’s development.” The presentation aims to dispel myths about African women as “needy,” and will illustrate how they are working to effect change through digital technology, social media, mobile advertising, and internet connectivity, she said. Panelists will discuss how increased access to information is altering the role of women in African society, will cite contributions of African women in the technology field, and will provide insights into how, using the latest technologies, a variety of advocates raise awareness about, mobilize campaigns against and address human rights violations.
This panel provides a rare glimpse into the multitude of ways African women are applying technology to advance Africa’s development. The panel aims to dispel the myths about African women as breeders and victims — incapable of participating in their own continent’s development, by showcasing contributions they are making in the technology field and providing insights into how they are using technology to raise awareness about, mobilize campaigns against and address human rights violations.
Speakers: Deborah Ensor, Ebele Okobi, Isis Nyong’o, Liz Ngonzi, TMS Ruge
It is the 21st century and most countries allow freedom and opportunity for all races and sexes to achieve any goal they set out for themselves. We see this as women have taken up senior roles within large corporations. But we still have a long way to go, And one Summit that has shed some light on How we can IS: the African Women’s Leadership Summit that took place in Kenya.
Joining us in studio today is international speaker, Elizabeth Ngonzi, who spoke at the summit. Ngonzi is also the CEO of a non-profit organization Afrika Tikkun in the USA. This organization invests in the development of disadvantaged children from early infancy through young adulthood and into the world of work.
