By Victor Gotevbe (Publisher/Editor-in-Chief) and Ann Acka’a, Contributing Editor
Silicon Valley-Nigeria Economic Development Inc.(SV-NED) in partnership with Global Connection For Women Foundation (GC4W), and with the support of the United Nations Women, will host the 21st Century Women and Youth in Innovation and Technology Forum on October 18, 2018 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, United States of America during the UN General Assembly. The Meeting with the theme: Turning Promises Into Action, will convene government officials, business professionals and civil society groups representatives from different countries.
The event will attract an array of keynote speakers including: Cathy Smith, Managing Director of SAP; Deborah Magid, Director, Software Strategy, IBM Ventures Group; Chief Temitope Ajayi Chairman/CEO, SV-NED Inc; and Dr Judy Kuriansky, UN Main Representative, International Association of Applied Psychology. Other speakers include Maame Boateng, Associate, Intergovernmental Relations & Africa; Lilian Ajayi-Ore, Founder / CEO Global Connection for Women and NYU Adjunct Professor; and Jennifer Dooley Neumaier, LinkedIn Learning Solutions.
According to Mrs. Denise Williams, President & Co-founder of SV-NED, “the collaboration between SV-NED & GC4W to organize this discussion is an urgent answer to meeting the promises of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, founded on the principle of ‘leaving no one behind’. Hence, we must join forces in advancing the rights of the youth and women in innovation technology space.”
She stated further that “we want to join our voice with the UN Women to call for transformative shifts, integrated approaches, and innovative solutions to overcome the structural barriers to sustainable development. We are convinced that the heart and engine of every country is in its young people and its women as we are the incredible forces behind any thriving country as a growing economy.”
Ms. Lilian Ajayi-Ore, one of the Organizing Partners, expressed that the Forum is timely as empowering women and youth via educational training and development programs will undoubtedly fuel the growth of any Nation’s economy. She added that “technology and innovation are changing rapidly and disruptive ideas have provided the necessary quest for lifelong learning, while maintaining the need to keep up with the high-skilled job is to continuously learn in a fast and changing economic climate.”
Therefore, she said discussions at the meeting will revolve around critical matters about the future of women in technology, and why and how Innovation and technology provide unrecorded opportunities to reach those who are the most likely to be left behind.
The event is strictly by invitation. All invited guests will be prescreened by United Nations for Security Clearance before the conference convenes. For more information about participation, interested candidates are advised to send an email to info@svned.com or visit www.svned.com
