Girls ready to lead digital future

DAR ES SALAAM: FOR 15-year-old Jenifa Tuji, the future is already arriving one screen at a time. As classrooms, businesses, hospitals and everyday services become increasingly digital, the Form Three student at Makongo Juu Secondary School worries that girls without technology skills could be left watching opportunities pass them by.

“Over the coming years, the use of technology in Tanzania is expected to grow rapidly and become an important part of education, employment, business, healthcare and economic participation,” Jenifa says.

As Tanzania looks towards 2050, girls like Jenifa are calling for equal access to digital devices, reliable internet and technology skills, arguing that these opportunities will determine whether they become creators and leaders in the digital economy or remain mere consumers of technology.