The Fiji National University (FNU) joined the global community in commemorating World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) 2025 with a powerful message centred on advancing digital gender equality.
The event, held at the Derrick campus in Samabula last Friday, reflected on the crucial role of information and communication technologies (ICT) in shaping our future, while emphasising the need to ensure that women and girls are full participants in the digital world.
This year’s celebration, themed “Advancing Digital Gender Equality”, also marked the 160th anniversary of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN agency for global digital development and cooperation.
In his welcome address, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Dr Isimeli Tagicakiverata highlighted that technology’s rapid growth must be matched with efforts to foster equality.
Pro Vice-Chancellor, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Dr Isimeli Tagicakiverata highlighted technology’s rapid growth during the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) 2025 commemoration at the Derrick campus in Samabula on Friday, 16 May 2025.
“The theme highlights a critical issue, the need to ensure that women and girls everywhere have equal access to digital tools and opportunities,” Dr Tagicakiverata said.
He urged everyone to reflect on why fewer girls pursue careers in ICT and why women remain underrepresented in leadership roles within the tech sector.
“This theme also aligns with the global push to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, especially those focused on gender equality, innovation, and inclusive education,” he said.
The Chief Guest and Walesi Chairman, Taito Tabaleka, emphasised that digital progress is a shared responsibility. “Digital equality is not something we wait for; it’s something we build together—with purpose and urgency,” Tabaleka said.
Chief Guest and Walesi Chairman, Taito Tabaleka addresed the students and staff during the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) 2025 event at the Derrick campus in Samabula on Friday, 16 May 2025.
“We can no longer afford to let gender, geography, or income decide who gets to participate in the digital future. Access to technology is not just about devices or data; it’s about hope, opportunity, and belief in the future.”
He also commended FNU for leading the pathway in creating safe, supportive spaces for girls to thrive in digital spaces, highlighting the university’s ongoing efforts in increasing digital learning opportunities and outreach programmes.
FNU’s commitment to transforming the future is focused on fostering innovation, inclusion, and resilience—values deeply embedded in the university’s mission.
Meanwhile, FNU’s College of Engineering and Technical Vocational Education and Training (CETVET) students and the CISCO team at FNU, together with their industry partner, Digicel, also showcased their innovations in the ICT sector, such as the wireless camera connection for household protection, Digicel’s other digital transformation products, such as video analytics and asset tracking through digital tracking apps.
Fiji National University’s College of Engineering and Technical Vocational Education and Training (CETVET) students showcased their innovation in the ICT sector during the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) 2025 event at the Derrick campus in Samabula on Friday, 16 May 2025.
As Fiji advances in the digital age, FNU remains dedicated to ensuring no one is left behind, especially women and girls, who are essential to building a more inclusive and innovative future.
For more information, visit the FNU website at http://www.fnu.ac.fj
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