The Big ONE

"In his Millennium Report, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan stressed the importance for developing countries to benefit from opportunities emerging from the digital revolution, and stressed the vital role volunteers are playing in helping to bridge the digital divide between industrialized and developing countries, in key fields like health, education, income generation, gender equity, environment and humanitarian aid. UNITeS, the United Nations Information Technology Service, promotes volunteer involvement as fundamental to efforts focused on information
and communications technologies for development ( ICT4D ). The United Nations Volunteers programme coordinates this UN ICT initiative. "

The MDG Monitor provides information on how nations are progressing towards meeting the 2015 date. The role of ICTs is integtral to the success of meeting each of these goals:

1. Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger
2. Achieve Universal Primary Education
3. Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women
4. Reduce Child Mortality
5. Improve Maternal Health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other Diseases
7. nsure Environmental Sustainability
8. Develop a Global Partnership for Development
   

egov Monitor
"A United Nations meeting at its headquarters in New York on 25-26 March will consider specific ways technology innovators and economic entrepreneurs can work together to drive and strengthen development in emerging markets.

“United Nations Meets Web 2.0 and ICT Entrepreneurs” will be attended by ICT leaders and innovators, new media entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and investment firms, and ICT policymakers from governments. Participants will try to apply the mindset of information and communication technologies (ICT) entrepreneurs to how the new media and content are shaping the landscapes of business and economics in developing countries."

In addition to the discussions on those policy issues, an Investors Forum will showcase emerging business and investment opportunities in ICT from developing countries.

Meanwhile in Africa,

Lagos

Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, Head, Information Technology, Federal Ministry of Information and Communications and Mrs. Florence Seriki, Managing director, Omatek Computers, leading indigenous manufacturer of computer systems have confirmed participation in the first ever national Women in ICT forum.