Conference on the week of Information and Communication Technology

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, November 17, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Department of Infrastructure and Energy is preparing the 2011 Edition of the African Information and Communication Technology Week (AICTW) from 14th-19th November, and plans to organize a conference as part of the events planned during the week on 18th November 2011, from 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm at the AU commission's Plenary Hall.

The upcoming conference will be in line with the current and the next themes of the AU heads of States and government Summit (2011 & 2012): “ICT as a tool for Youth Empowerment” and “ICT contribution to intra-Africa Trade”.

The general objective of the organization of AICTW is to arouse the interest of the African population to the use of the ICT for successful transformation of Africa at the numerical era from An Agricultural Society to knowledge Society.

During the conference, the following discussants are invited to make a presentation on the above themes.

i. Mr. Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria. Mr Sesan will make a presentation on:

“ICT as a tool for Youth Empowerment”;

• How ICT sector can be an opportunities for Youth empowerment for Africa's Development

• How African young people can take part of the Development of Africa by the usage of ICT.

ii. Mr. Amadou mbaye DIOP, Permanent secretary, African Alliance on E-Commerce (AAEC). Mr Diop will make a presentation on:

“ICT Contribution to Intra-African Trade”,

• How ICT can contribute to the Africa integration in terms of Trade.

• African Best practices in the usage of ICT to boost Intra-African trade.

This conference is intended for staff of the Commission, international institutions, African and non-African diplomats, academics and students in Addis Ababa.

All media representatives are invited to cover this important ICT Conference.