Black women are reported to be making rapid inroads into the previously male-dominated information and communication technology (ICT) industry.
Ahead of this year`s African Achievers awards, organiser Forge Ahead BMI-T says nominees for the Women in ICT category are getting stronger every year.
The quality of women nominees in last year`s Black ICT Achievers Awards was an indication of how much the influence and involvement of black women in the industry has grown in the past three years, says BMI-T. Nominees represented a cross-section of public and private sector organisations. They included:
* Irene Charnley, M-Cell
* Bondy Zinde, PQ Africa
* Mmabatho Gwangwa, Telkom
* The late Mathabo Pharasi, ICL
* Dr Sebiletso Mokone-Matabane, Sentech
* Pinky Moholi, Telkom
* Dillo Lehlokoe, Department of Communications
* Nomvula Ndzengu, Maseco Systems Integration
Pinky Moholi, Telkom`s deputy VP, sales and marketing, won the award in the face of stiff competition. The judges remarked that this was one of the most difficult categories in which to settle on a single winner. Moholi has held a range of technical, marketing and regulatory affairs posts during her career at Telkom. She has been a passionate voice for the need to roll-out universal access to telecoms services to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to participate in the digital economy.
The achievements of many of the nominees are gaining recognition outside of the country`s borders too. For example, Fortune magazine named M-Cell commercial director Irene Charnley as one of the 50 most powerful women in business in a survey done last year.
Fortune lauded Charnley`s role in the mobile telephony revolution, saying M-Cell is already one of southern Africa`s biggest telecom groups and could be expected to show strong growth into the future on the back of its investment into Nigeria.
The recognition and continuing contribution of women to the economy generally and the ICT sector in particular is again celebrated in the African Achievers Awards 2002 in October. This year the awards broaden their focus to encompass the achievement of African ICT entrepreneurs, but the key category of "Top Woman in the African ICT Industry" remains. An innovation in the awards format this year is the launch of an official magazine to accompany the awards ceremony and to focus on the African ICT Achievers throughout the year.
Nominations for the 2002 Forge Ahead BMI-T African Achievers Awards are now closed for South African entries. Nominations from elsewhere in Africa are invited until 12 August.
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