The Network of Communication Reporters (NCR), has called on the players in the telecoms and ICT industry to collaborate with the institutions of higher learning to set aside some of their respective scholarship budgets specifically for girls who show interest in Telecoms/ICT Engineering and its related courses.

Consequently, it has also entreated the telcos to emulate the example of the Ministry of Communications to design special training workshops to expose women and girls to the use of ICT, particularly in the rural areas of the country.

The move, according to a release issued in Accra and signed by the Dean of the NCR, Mr Charles Benoni Okine to mark the World Telecommunications and Information Society Day today (May 17), is to encourage more women to go into ICT engineering while exposing the majority of the women and girls to the use of ICTs to enhance their standard of living.

The World Telecommunications and Information Society Day is a day set aside by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the UN General Assembly to celebrate the founding of the ITU, signing of the first International Telegraph Convention in 1865, and to focus on the importance of ICT and a wide range of issues related to the information society.

The theme for this year is ?Women and Girls in ICT?, which obviously seeks to throw the spotlight on achievements by women and girls in ICT and how they could also benefit from ICT in their businesses and studies.

?In line with the theme, the Network of Communication Reporter (NCR) Ghana wishes to congratulate women who have blazed the trail in Telecommunications and ICT in this country, whether as policy makers or industry players,? the release said.

The statement gave a special mention of women as Telecoms/ICT Engineers and Entrepreneurs, who have braved the storm to lead the way; Patricia Obo-Nai, CTO of Vodafone Ghana, Estelle Akofio-Sowah, CEO of Google Ghana, Anne Amuzu, CEO of Nandimobile.com, Sheila Bartels-Sam, CEO of inchargeglobal.com, and Florence Toffa, of Mobileweb Ghana Foundation among others.

It said ?it is however the opinion of the Network that the achievements of these bold women would be recognized and other platforms and opportunities opened up for other women and girls to follow with a special scholarship scheme dedicated for girls who choose to study Telecoms/ICT Engineering?.

The release said it is the prayer of the NCR that the NCA and the sector Ministry will continue to work at ensuring that the telcos deliver quality service, particularly in the remotest parts of the country to enable women and girls to use the ICTs to enhance their businesses and studies.

The Network also looks forward to the activities by the MOC and industry players around the theme as required by the ITU.