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Media release by NEPAD Council Thursday 4 May 2006 For Immediate Release
BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE KEY THEME AT NEPAD COUNCIL CONFERENCE
Bridging the digital divide is the key to closing economic gaps between ethnic communities, especially in Africa.
This will be one of the main themes to be discussed at Africa's largest Information and Communication Technology (ICT) conference to be hosted by the NEPAD Council at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, May 17 to 21st.
One of the leading voices in the United States on the subject of equity and information and communication technology, Tyrone D. Taborn, chairman of the American Career Communications Group, will lead discussions on the topic.
The "digital divide" refers to the difference in computer and technology skills that tends to exist between people of different racial backgrounds. The issue is of major significance because studies suggest that more than 60 percent af future jobs will require computer skills and network usage. Taborn also warns that people with computer skills will earn more than 40 percent more than those without it.
According to a report issued by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the U.S. Department of Commerce, computer use by blacks lags behind that of non-Hispanic whites by more than 14 percent while Internet use by blacks trails that of non-Hispanic whites by nearly 20 percent. This divide is even larger in Africa.
Finding Solutions to this trend and boosting global public awareness of the "digital divide" has become a crusade for Taborn.
"We've generated awareness, and I'm tremendously proud of that. However, our task is nowhere near complete. We've got to inspire a movement," says Taborn, who will address policy makers, financiers, industry leaders, scientists, engineers and educators from Africa and the rest of the world at the conference.
As one of the most important continental events on African soil the NEPAD Council is proud to organise ICT Africa 2006 in collaboration with the Kenyan Government, NEPAD Secretariat in Kenya, and the Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE).
ICT Africa will also include several tutorials to address information and communications issues for the entire African continent.
NEPAD Council is an organisation of professionals whose mission is to support the implementation of NEPAD objectives. NEPAD Council is recognised and endorsed by the NEPAD Secretariat and the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee and is registered as a non-profit organisation in New York State, USA, and headquartered in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. NEPAD Council is also a member of the NEPAD civil society organisations (CSO).
This year's conference will run from 17 to 21 May.
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