women – PressAP

ACN Newswire

Surayyah Ahmad on Greater Participation for Nigerian Women in Tech

January 2, 2023

ABUJA, NG, Jan 2, 2023 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Surayyah Ahmad, Ethco Group Ltd co-founder and Executive Secretary of Startup AREWA has discussed the underrepresentation of Nigerian women in the tech industry, and women's effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in the tech ecosystem. She identified several important elements that can raise women's involvement in technology and help the nation achieve a balanced workforce.Surayyah Ahmad, Ethco co-founder and Executive Secretary, Startup AREWA, discussed underrepresentation of Nigerian women in the tech industry and opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in the tech ecosystem. [Image: Startup AREWA]"Studies from all across the world are showing that women are underrepresented in the tech industry, despite recent headlines concentrating on tech hiring sprees and the underrepresentation of diverse populations. Although the reasons for this differ, it is known that many people's decision to seek a career in technology dates back to their elementary school years," she says.Women hold only 18% of undergraduate computer science degrees and 26% of computing occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Since the 1990s, there has been a decrease in the proportion of women working in computer science-related fields, from 35% to 26% between 1990 and 2013. According to the United Nations, only one in five experts in technical disciplines like artificial intelligence are women.Only 16% of females at the pre-university level have had tech occupations recommended to them, and only 3% of them originally planned to pursue careers in technology, according to a recent report by Price Waterhouse Coppers (PwC) survey on women in technology. This figure is less in conservative regions such as Northern Nigeria, which, according to a World Bank report, could take more than 40 years to catch up with the country's southern region.Regardless of the disparity in accessing opportunities, women are starting to develop ideas and lead change through technology in their immediate contexts, despite the disparities in access. Things are gradually changing as more young women become interested in technology. Despite the underrepresentation of women in the tech industry globally, women have demonstrated a remarkable capacity to advance society, such as by reviving small and medium-sized businesses in Nigeria.Surayyah cited two sisters in Nigeria as an example of this achievement of women in technology. The sisters took the initiative to create an app, which would provide technical support to micro, small, and medium-sized businesses. According to the sisters, Kesandu and Dumebi Nwokolo, the app is intended to assist budding entrepreneurs and serve as a stepping stone that will increase visibility and ostensibly display these abilities, goods and services to the world.Ms. Odunayo Eweniyi, the Co-founder of Piggy Vest, has opined that in Africa, the normative beliefs that put women in subordination to men as a culture while encouraging patriarchy have put women on the sidelines of critical decision-making around the world. She says, "The lack of women in tech can't be explained away by innate biological differences. It is really down to a combination of systemic bias, men funding men, and a working culture that excludes women."Surayyah states that more women from Northern Nigeria are coming up with programs to help Northern women get into tech. Start-up Kano run by Aisha Tofa, the Brief Academy run by Farida Yahya, and TTlabs are currently some of the female-led institutions driving the inclusion of northern women in technology, mostly by providing mentoring and sponsorship to technology institutions.Giving girls early access to technology is a good start, but it's never too late to give women the chance to get the experience they need to start a career in technology. Organizations can create valuable technical talent development programs that promote women and help diversity in representation and ideas, which frequently results in even greater innovation."Through job shadowing or internships, these programs give women a chance to learn technical skills that they can use in real life. Participants can learn useful information and meet other people who are interested in the same things they are. Even the experience gained can help develop their talents and launch a technological career," Surayyah said.About Startup AREWAStartup AREWA was established to organize, empower and promote the Northern Nigeria technology and Startup Ecosystem, with the overarching goal of using technology and startups as a strategy to combat unemployment and poverty across the Northern Nigeria.From the first Bootcamp at Bello Memorial Foundation Hall in Kaduna to a series of over 20 Bootcamps across Northern Nigeria, engaging over 5000 Startups with support from innovators and public-private leaders, Startup AREWA is implementing its strategic plan of promoting and providing real-time support to Startups.Official website: https://startuparewa.ngFacebook: https://facebook.com/startuparewaTwitter: https://twitter.com/startuparewaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/startuparewa/Email: hello@startuparewa.ngFor more information, please visit https://startuparewa.ng, write to contact@startuparewa.ng, or call us on +234 90 9685 9999. Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

ACN Newswire

Dr. Marliyyah Mahmood discusses the Impact of Tech on Women in Northern Nigeria

January 2, 2023

ABUJA, NG, Jan 2, 2023 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Dr. Marliyyah A. Mahmood, Women In Tech and Project Manager for Startup AREWA, discusses how technology is enabling and enhancing women's empowerment in Northern Nigeria. She emphasizes some of the fundamental advantages of social media technologies, such as giving women access to a virtual environment where they may express themselves.Dr. Marliyyah A. Mahmood, Women In Tech, Project Manager for Startup AREWA, spoke on how technology is enabling and enhancing women's empowerment in Northern Nigeria. [Image: Startup AREWA]"It is impossible to overstate the importance of women in the growth of any nation, state, or community. This is to reiterate the critical role that women's education plays in long-term national development, which begins at home. Women are frequently observed to be the children's first teachers at home. A mother's influence on upbringing in any developing country, and the empowerment of women, has a significant impact on key developmental outcomes like health, education, reproductive patterns, income level, and other factors," said Dr Mahmood. While a report from PWC in April 2020 states that 41% of micro-businesses in Nigeria are owned by women, a report in EFInA stated that 55% of the financially excluded adults in Nigeria are women, and of the 25.1 million financially excluded in the north, 13.1 million are women. Business transactions are largely cash within informal channels, as business funds are kept at home because financial institutions are concentrated in the state capital, while poor record-keeping from transacting through informal channels in turn hampers eligibility for credit.The previous census, which was performed in 2006, indicated that women made up around 49.7% of the population of Nigeria. Despite this, Nigerian women (particularly those in the northern region) have not been able to change the long-standing status that society accords to women. There are a number of reasons why women in Northern Nigerian society are treated unequally, the majority of which can be linked to the patriarchal system in place and the general lack of gender awareness among the rural population, including women who have been socialized to accept their subordinate position.However, with better access to information online, women have developed a greater sense of awareness. Online educational content, blogs videos and social media tools have given women access to a virtual world that provides them with opportunities for self-expression. Digital platforms are aiming to be more inclusive than ever before in light of the changing political conscience. It is now essential, not simply an option, to guarantee women's safety, inclusivity, and a voice at all intersections.Through online workspaces, more women have recently been able to achieve financial independence. There are now more jobs available for women thanks to specific job postings on numerous online portals. Housewives or moms who have taken extended absences from the workforce now have access to special possibilities to re-enter the workforce. Many websites provide part-time and full-time occupations that people can undertake from home.In Northern Nigeria, Startup AREWA and Financial Service Innovation (FSI) organized a virtual hackathon on financial inclusion amongst female entrepreneurs within the northern region by proffering simple and easy-to-use fintech solutions to increase more of their participation in setting up businesses. The innovative solutions developed from this hackathon were able to tackle the challenges faced by unbanked and underbanked female entrepreneurs in Northern Nigeria.Dr. Marliyyah reveals how women now have access to a wide range of created opportunities online as a result of technology advancements. "Technology has helped women affirm their freedom of expression and right to the workforce, which they frequently find difficult to accomplish. This is a really great achievement that shows how it can be utilized to empower those with disadvantaged identities."However, it must not be overlooked that having internet access is necessary in order to take use of these virtual prospects. How many women and members of underrepresented groups actually have access to such technology is still an open subject. To ensure that intersectional gaps are filled and that technology and the internet are more widely available, intervention is necessary in this context."About Startup AREWAStartup AREWA was established to organize, empower and promote the Northern Nigeria technology and Startup Ecosystem, with the overarching goal of using technology and startups as a strategy to combat unemployment and poverty across the Northern Nigeria.From the first Bootcamp at Bello Memorial Foundation Hall in Kaduna to a series of over 20 Bootcamps across Northern Nigeria, engaging over 5000 Startups with support from innovators and public-private leaders, Startup AREWA is implementing its strategic plan of promoting and providing real-time support to Startups.Official website: https://startuparewa.ngFacebook: https://facebook.com/startuparewaTwitter: https://twitter.com/startuparewaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/startuparewa/Email: hello@startuparewa.ngFor more information, please visit https://startuparewa.ng, write to contact@startuparewa.ng, or call us on +234 90 9685 9999. Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

ACN Newswire

Women in power take centre stage at PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit VIP Cocktail Party

December 16, 2022

BANGKOK, THAILAND, Dec 16, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - PropertyGuru Group (NYSE: PGRU), ("PropertyGuru" or the "Company"), Southeast Asia's leading property technology company, launched its annual celebration of outstanding female leaders in the region at the PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit (ARES) VIP Cocktail Party on 8 December 2022 in Bangkok, Thailand.Themed 'Celebrating Power Women in Real Estate', this exclusive gathering sponsored by PropertyGuru for Business stresses the importance of equality in real estate and tech, which was among the crucial themes discussed at ARES 2022 during its thought leadership summit themed 'Adaptive Reinvention'.While more diverse representation in real estate has improved, the lack of women in senior leadership roles is still apparent. A study conducted by Urban Land Institute's Women's Leadership Initiative in major Asia Pacific countries revealed that merely 37 percent of women are in top positions, while 50 percent identified how company policies, including maternity/familial leaves and flexible work hours, are critical to their success and advancement. PropertyGuru Group is committed to driving diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and alongside their partners, "We are building for the future - a future that is more equitable, a future where more of us can have a fair shot at equal opportunities in life. Be it housing, job opportunities, community contribution, and more" said Ho Shyn Yee, Managing Director of Data and Software Solutions and executive sponsor of Women in Leadership at PropertyGuru Group.This year, ARES' focus on DEI is greater than ever, granting the stage to over 50 percent of women and members of the LGBTQ+ community. To showcase their valuable contributions to the industry, the ARES VIP Cocktail Party honoured four outstanding women leaders from across the region, such as Cyndy Tan Jarabata, the President of TAJARA Leisure & Hospitality Group, Inc. and the first female chairperson of the PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards.Upon receiving the honour, she said: "There is still so much opportunity in the Philippine property sector and no limit to what we can achieve. We need to be consistent in creating value for our community and differentiate offerings in order to build better in today's built environment."Loemongga Haoemasan, the President Director at Asiana Group (Indonesia) and an esteemed speaker at this year's ARES, was also one of the honourees of the evening. With this recognition, she hopes that, "PropertyGuru's continued support to equality will open many doors and opportunities for other women in the industry and we can inspire others." Sarena Cheah, Managing Director of the Property Division at Sunway Berhad, who was also the Real Estate Personality of the Year recipient at the PropertyGuru Asia Awards Malaysia in 2020, echoes her sentiment, saying, "I hope that each of us continue to celebrate the Power in Women for many years to come as we pursue in creating positive influences to our homes, society, and nation, together."Suphin Mechuchep, the Chairperson at JLL Thailand and PropertyGuru Thailand Property Awards, expresses her gratitude for the honour, "When I chose to start my work life in real estate 30 years ago, I knew that I would have a great opportunity to develop my career path in this major sector that touches everyone's life. But I didn't expect to come this far. I feel very delighted and honoured to be named as one of the ARES Power Women."As a token, these inspiring women were given equally inspiring necklaces from Fugeelah. Established by Deborah Henry in 2017 with support from UNHCR & Rotary Malaysia, this women-led conscious jewellery brand has been at the forefront of educating, employing, and empowering refugee children and youth. The brand's main objective is to contribute to sustainably managing Fugee School, a non-profit organisation, so it can continue to offer free education and support for all refugees. Magali Du Parc Crosta, co-founder and senior strategic advisor at Baan Dek Foundation, as well as founder of Thai social enterprise Dao Ethical Gifts, was among the notable women present at the celebration. As an enterprise that empowers women in marginalised communities, through the establishment of Dao, Magali "envisions a world where vulnerable women are able to realise their childhood dreams, gain a newfound sense of ambition, and thrive in safer communities."PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit (ARES 2022) is supported by official MICE partner Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB); official partner PropertyGuru for Business; official channel partners History and Lifetime; official magazine and podcast Property Report by PropertyGuru; official PR partner Artemis Associates; media partners d+a Magazine, Esquire PH, Hot Magazine, People Asia, REm Thailand, Southeast Asia Globe, The Grid, and Think of Living; official ESG partner Baan Dek Foundation; official charity partner Liter of Light; and supporting associations Green Building Consulting & Engineering, IFC - Building Resilience Index, IFC - Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies, and REHDA Institute.For more information, visit AsiaRealEstateSummit.com or email ares@propertyguru.com.PropertyGuru Group contacts:Speakers & Corporate:Richard Allan AquinoHead of Brand & Marketing ServicesTel: +66 92 954 4154Email: allan@propertyguru.com Sponsorships:Kanittha Srithongsuk Regional Manager of Awards SponsorshipTel: +66 87 708 5237Email: kanittha@propertyguru.com Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

ACN Newswire

Poh Heng Encapsulates Women Empowerment with its Latest Freestyle Collection

November 30, 2022

SINGAPORE, Nov 30, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Poh Heng Jewellery, Singapore's hallmark jewellery brand, is celebrating women and freedom of expression with the latest addition to its Freestyle collection. Inspired by modern women, the bolt designs symbolise power and strength, while the bling designs represent expression of style, success and aspirations. Encased in dazzling gems, this collection makes a perfect gift for the upcoming festive season.Celebrating Modern WomenLeft: Bling Necklace; Right: Bolt NecklaceBolt and Bling, Mix & Match EarringsAvailable in both 18K white gold and 22K yellow gold, customers can choose from a total of 35 designs to enhance their style. Elegant, yet modern, the diamonds in each piece boast incredible craftsmanship that catches the light in any setting, making them perfect for any occasion. Poh Heng's Freestyle Collection has always been to provide wearers the freedom of expression to create one's own unique and personal style. Asymmetric pairing options are available for earrings, which allows greater flexibility for wearers to customise the jewellery based on their style and preferences.Poh Heng has established itself as the go-to for meaningful jewellery pieces across generations, and we are constantly inspired by stories of real people and their lives that shape our design philosophy. This collection is inspired by the strength, individuality and resilience of modern women. Poh Heng wanted to create something that showcases women's tenacity while still giving them the freedom to express, choosing the pieces that speak to them.Celebrating Modern WomenIn celebrating women as overcomers, Poh Heng has also partnered with Patricia Tan, a local in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) fighter, to front the campaign. Patricia went through six years of IVF attempts before getting pregnant with her daughter in November 2019. Her tenacity saw her through the darkest storms in those years and she emerged as a Warrior. Poh Heng is proud to join hands with Patricia to celebrate women - a true force of nature.Bold, sleek, and edgy, the use of the lightning and star motifs aim to encapsulate the sense of adventure through embodying the daily challenges that modern women face as well as their strength in getting back up.Customers are encouraged to play with the different pairing options, mix and match the earrings based on their style, outfit and mood of the day. The designs in 18K gold are now available, while the 22K gold jewellery will be available on 9 December. For more information, please visit www.pohheng.com.sg.About Poh Heng JewelleryAs a trusted jeweller and a specialist in gold for more than 70 years, Poh Heng Jewellery offers an extensive range of gold jewellery made of highest quality and hallmarked by the Singapore Assay Office for guaranteed purity. With its unwavering commitment to exceptional service and craftsmanship, Poh Heng continues to drive excellence in its design and product offering, and is recognised as a member of the Quality Jewellers of Singapore.Website: www.pohheng.com.sgCustomer Service Hotline: 1800-POH HENG (1800-764 4364)For Media Enquiries, please contact:PRecious Communications for Poh Heng JewelleryPohheng@preciouscomms.com Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

ACN Newswire

Novotech India Recognised as “Best Workplaces for Women 2022” by Global Work Standards Authority

October 12, 2022

SYDNEY, AU, Oct 12, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Novotech, the leading Asia Pacific biotech specialist CRO, has again received "Best Workplace" certification by the leading workplace culture organization Great Place to Work Institute. Novotech's India team has received a Best Workplaces for Women 2022 recognition and listed in the Top 75 organisations in India recognised for excelling people practices, responsiveness to feedback and a culture of openness and diversity. Novotech also holds Great Place to Workplace recognition in Australia and Korea.To identify India's Best Workplaces for Women 2022, Great Place to Work India studied 1122 organizations that had:- Women employees constituting at least 10% of their workforce- Women employees sharing at least 70% positive feedback on the Great Place to Work Trust Index Organizations that excelled in gender parity in representationAccording to Great Place to Work India: "We have observed that the Best Workplaces have gone above and beyond to create and sustain aspirational organizations. We congratulate Novotech for being a role-model in India by fostering an equal and equitable workplace culture."Novotech CEO Dr. John Moller said: "As a leading employer of women in India we are extremely pleased to be ranked among the top companies in India as a Best Workplaces for Women 2022. This is especially important for retaining and attracting top talent. This recognition demonstrates the importance of culture, diversity and work life balance as we strive to be one of the leading employers so we can deliver our world-class CRO services across India." Novotech's Chief People Officer Angela Edwardson said: "We are delighted that Novotech India has been recognized as a leading employer for women. This is a real credit to our workplace culture and leadership that drives all our Asia Pacific and North American teams. Novotech attracts a high proportion of talented female employees, so we are extremely proud to have our workplace recognized using the criteria from the Great Place to Work Institute's Trust Index and the Gender Parity in Experience & Representation. Our continued focus on building a leading workplace means team members can balance their personal responsibilities with work during all stages of life."According to Yooni Kim, Vice President, Global Clinical Services Novotech: "Employees are the most valuable assets of a company. Novotech is dedicated to improving our working environment and enhance employee health and wellbeing. We are more than grateful to receive this recognition."Sridevi Gubbala, Manager Centralized Document Management Novotech said: "Novotech is a great place to work. It's wonderful to have flexibility at work because it helps me balance my work and personal life."Vandana Jaising, Manager Project Support joined Novotech after an extended career break and said: "Women should consider coming back, even if it is has been a while. Before joining Novotech I took an eight-year career break, and now I'm glad Novotech had the confidence in me to say 'YES! You can do it!'"Novotech has operations across Asia Pacific and the US offering a unique and unparalleled suite of CRO services for early to late phase biotech clinical research.Novotech has recently been benchmarked as a top 10 CRO among the world's leading CROs, is a finalist in the prestigious Scrip awards, and has just been awarded the Gene & Cell Therapy Excellence Award. In Asia Pacific Novotech has more than 50 Leading Site Partnership agreements with major medical research institutions which delivers exclusive benefits for sponsors.About NovotechNovotech is the leading Asia-Pacific biotech specialist CRO. Novotech has integrated labs and phase I facilities and provides drug development consulting and clinical development services across all phases. It has been instrumental in the success of approximately 4,000 clinical trials across a broad range of therapeutic areas. Novotech is well-positioned to serve biopharma clients conducting clinical trials in Asia-Pacific and the US. For more information visit https://novotech-cro.com/contactMedia ContactDavid JamesE: communications@novotech-cro.comAU: +61 2 8218 2144 USA: +1 415 951 3228Asia: +65 3159 3427 Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)