Pro-Zardari Rallies Continue Across Sindh

KARACHI — Supporters of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) for third day running on Tuesday staged rallies across Sindh province in favour of President Asif Ali Zardari.

The biggest rally was organised by People’s Peace Committee Lyari, the only locality of country’s biggest city and commercial centre, considered to be PPP’s stronghold.

Hundreds of PPP supporters riding motorbikes, buses and cars emerged from the slums of Lyari traversing through the major thoroughfares of the city, M.A.Jinnah Road and I.I. Chundhrigar Road to reach its destination the Karachi Press Club (KPC), city’s most popular demonstration spot.

Waving PPP banners and flags hundreds chanted slogans for the support of the present government declaring President Zardari’s order on the appointment of the judges constitutional.

Some of the die-hard PPP supporters got carried away and raised slogans against PML (N) chief, Nawaz Sharif and his party leaders criticising their utterances against Zardari as unacceptable and not to be tolerated.

On reaching the KPC, speakers addressed the gathering and vowed to fight against any conspiracy against the present government and president Zardari and the party workers would not deter from giving blood and life to protect the party.

The rally was peaceful and no untoward incident occurred despite the presence of big contingent of armed law enforcement personnel throughout the rally  and around the KPC.

Similar rallies were organised in other major cities of the province, but the response was less enthusiastic as compared to Sunday and Monday, reported local media and private TV channels.         During Sunday and Monday rallies and protest marches, PPP supporters burnt effigies of Nawaz, but it was not repeated on Tuesday possibly following an appeal by President Zardari not to do so. 


PML (N) Slams Zardari

The Pakistan Muslim League (N) spokesman Siddiqul Farooq, meanwhile, claimed that President Zardari was responsible for unnecessarily triggering a fresh confrontation with the judiciary.

Talking to the newsmen at KPC, he said that President Zardari was neither helping himself nor the country by his actions.

“President is trying to be overly smart. This is neither good for him, his party or the most importantly for Pakistan at this very critical juncture”, he remarked.

He reiterated that PML (N) would never compromise on the independence of the judiciary and would take all measures necessary to ensure the rulers not to undermine one of the major pillars of the government.

“PML (N) firmly believes in independence of the judiciary and will take whatever necessary to protect it those who are trying to tarnish its image”, he added.

PML (N) spokesman observed that the President had been provided a golden opportunity to get his name written in the history books, but it seems he was bent on throwing that chance through ill-judged decisions especially on vital issues. “Our party and leaders have given the present government every opportunity for good governance but so far it had failed to deliver and instead adopted confrontational policies and going back on its pledges.” “PML (N) desires that all issues to be solved through sensible decisions”, he added.

On the vital issue of sharing water, he said that Punjab would not use even one drop of Sindh water for its agricultural purposes and our Sindhi brothers were being misled on the issue of construction of power plant on Chashma-Jehlum Link Canal.

“Just to show the sincerity and willingness Punjab sacrificed Rs11 billion in the recently announced National Finance Award to accommodate other provinces”, he added

Toyota faces class-action problem

Toyota is facing dozens of class-action lawsuits in the US that could cost it billions of dollars in damages as the Japanese company struggles to contain the fall-out from its mass recall of faulty cars.
Akio Toyoda, Toyota’s chief executive, is on Wednesday due to update the public in Tokyo about what steps the company is taking to address the design flaws that led to unintended acceleration and braking problems in some of its most popular models.

Mr Toyoda’s presentation is part of a belated drive to counter the negative fall-out, including the proliferation of lawsuits and two US Congressional committee hearings that will probe its response to drivers’ complaints. One committee has asked Mr Toyoda to testify during a planned visit to the US next month.
Tim Howard, a law professor at Northeastern University in Boston who is co-ordinating litigation against Toyota, estimated that 44 class-action lawsuits had been filed under state and federal law by the end of last week. He estimated that the claims could reach $3.6bn, based on an average loss of $600 per vehicle.
A court hearing is scheduled in San Diego on March 25 to determine the location of a single national case.
Some claims relate to deaths, injuries and property damage allegedly caused by defective parts, while others are based on a drop in Toyota vehicles’ trade-in values.
“The only way business understands is when you hurt their profits”, Mr Howard said. “If they’re going to spend a little bit to clean this up, that’s not going to hurt their business model.”
In addition, some dealers and car auction companies have claimed compensation as a result of the freeze imposed earlier this month on sales of eight recalled Toyota models, pending repairs to their accelerators.
Two law firms spearheading a claim by dealers and auctioneers in Kansas and Louisiana, said that “class actions allow small businesses to come together and take on a corporate Goliath like Toyota”.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which regulates vehicle safety, said that it had received complaints linking unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles to 34 deaths and 22 injuries.
NHTSA, which itself faces criticism over its response Toyota safety issues, has also received 1,120 complaints about braking problems in the Prius hybrid hatchback. The complaints cite 34 crashes and six injuries but no deaths.
TrueCar, an online car research service, said the number of searches on its websites for eight recalled Toyota models had almost halved in the past three weeks, while interest in other Toyota models was down by 16 per cent.
Toyota will slow production at two US plants in coming weeks to reduce stocks of some models, including the Camry, the US’s top-selling car.
Additional reporting by Stephanie Kirchgaessner and Jonathan Soble

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Tata Motors to take a shot at bullet-proof vehicles for army

Entering the business of combat vehicles manufacturing for the defence sector, Tata Motors today said it would bid to supply light bullet-proof vehicles to the Indian Army, with a possible order size of Rs 350 crore.
The company today launched an anti-mine vehicle for use by the Indian Army, paramilitary and police forces.
"Defence business is becoming a big business. We are the largest commercial vehicle maker, so we think we are poised to play an important role. From supplying only common vehicles, we have moved into various specialised vehicles," Tata Motors Vice-Chairman Ravi Kant told reporters here.
Besides, the company also aims to mechanise and upgrade the transportation of the Indian Army at lower cost, he added.
Tata Motors, which has supplied about 120,000 units to India's defence and paramilitary forces since 1958, is planning to bid for supplying light bullet-proof vehicles, to be manufactured on its multi-utility vehicle Sumo's platform.
"We are currently competing for an Army tender for supplying the bullet proof vehicles... The order will be for almost 1,000 vehicles and a normal bullet-proof vehicle costs about Rs 35 lakh," Tata Motors Head (Defence Business) V S Noronha said.
The company will be competing with other local auto makers such as Mahindra & Mahindra and Ashok Leyland for supplying the vehicles.
Noronha said the company would also participate in production of futuristic infantry combat vehicles, which would work as a system integrator.
When asked how much Tata Motors plans to invest in the defence business, Noronha said: "Outlay in R&D alone is a couple of hundred crores. On manufacturing and other areas, we leverage from our commercial vehicle business."
The company also plans to form partnerships and harness the capabilities of its subsidiaries and other Tata Group firms, he added.
On the possibility of using Land Rover for defence purposes in India, Kant said Tata Motors was looking at prospects of utilising the British marque in the defence sector as it does with other brands of the company.
Besides the Indian Army, Tata Motors also supplies vehicles to some defence forces in Africa and Asia.
So far, Tata Motors had been supplying vehicles, including troop carriers, armoured buses, light specialist vehicles and aviation fuel dispensers. With the launch of mine-proof vehicles, the company aims to widen its portfolio.
"Our aim is to participate in the entire defence value chain. Besides consolidating our traditional supplies, going forward we will also participate in creating vehicles and equipment specific to the defence sector," Managing Director (India Operations) P M Telang said.

Kate Moss, The Hottest Fall 2010 Beauty Trend

Classic Kate Moss "I Don't Care" hair, circa 2005. Photo: Getty Images

When you're doing the backstage beauty rounds at Fashion Week, a few phrases become all too familiar. "Excuse me," (as someone sends you flying into a 6 ft model) "Sorry, your name's not on the list," (as scary fashion flacks barely glance at the piece of paper in front of them) and, this year, "Kate Moss."

She is the word on everybody's lips.

From Marc Jacob's slept-in makeup, to Alexander Wang's ode to 90s grunge, to Zero + Maria Cornejo's "I don't care" hair, an early 90s Kate Moss was cited by the beauty brains behind each show as a clear inspiration.

Makeup artist Gucci Westman told us at Rag and Bone that a young Moss was the vision behind the bedroom eyes she created for the show; models were meant emulate a just-rolled-out-of-bed Moss, circa 1990. "Confident, but in a cool, nonchalant way," said Westman.

But it's not just early Kate Moss that gets the creative juices flowing.

At Jill Stuart, hair stylist Bob Recine was working the hair to look like "Kate Moss leaving a night club at 4am." When asked which period of Moss he was referring to, he said, "Kate Moss, circa now. " As in 2010, at age 36.

Moss is even lurking in the style shadows at shows that aren't directly referencing her. At Rebecca Taylor, the models had a purposely undone look to their hair. Stylist Rudi Lewis hearkened the look to Charlotte Gainsbourg and Lou Doillon, "She knows she's cool and doesn't have to try so hard," he said. Which, really, is just a round about way of saying Kate Moss.

Perhaps Moss' popularity is due to the fact that she's become the fashion industry's answer to "The Simpsons;" she's a hit well into her second decade, and just as popular as when she first strutted into our collective conscious, in 1988 at age 14.

Kate Moss inspired looks on the runways at Jill Stuart (left) and Rebecca Taylor (right). Photo: Getty Images (2)

"The Kate Moss look has been a perennial for twenty years now; it's become a classic in a way." says Sam McKnight, the fashion-favorite hairstylist, and Pantene global ambassador, who has styled Moss' tresses for a multitude of magazine covers since her breakout on the scene in the early 90s. "I've done 12-14 Vogue covers with Kate, and they're all completely different." he told StyleList. "She's got it. She just exudes confidence and coolness."

One word that's synonymous with Kate Moss is confidence. Every makeup artist and hair stylist we spoke to cited her cool, easy aplomb as the key to her enduring success.

Another theory is that Moss is not classically pretty. Her brand of beauty is imperfection, which makes her, in our heads, more approachable. She's neither an icy Nordic blonde, nor a statuesque Nubian princess. Rather, when Moss first shot to fame she was a skinny teenager with messy mouse brown hair.

"There's nothing perfect about beauty," says Recine. "When you perfect beauty, you sacrifice charm."

And while we would not call Kate Moss' look exactly charming, she certainly isn't perfect.

Which may be exactly why we love her.

Madonna in Talks to Design Macy's Fashion Line

Could cone bras be coming to a department store near you?

If Madonna gets her way, they just might!
The 51-year-old pop icon is reportedly in talks to design a new fashion line exclusively for Macy's, Women's Wear Daily reports.
Check out Madonna's craziest outfits of all time
According to WWD, she is considering signing on to launch a contemporary women's collection with merchandise that would include apparel, accessories, intimates and footwear.
The name of the label is even being discussed, and the top contenders are "Material Girl" for apparel and "Truth or Dare" -- the title of a 1991 documentary of Madonna's world tour -- for her lingerie and underwear.
See more singers' red carpet style at this year's Grammys!
Sources told WWD that a deal is close to being signed.
This wouldn't be Madonna's first foray into fashion.
Take a look at the worst dressed stars of 2009
She recently modeled for Dolce & Gabbana's spring advertising campaign and has also appeared in ads for Louis Vuitton, Versace and Gap. And in 2007, she created a co-branded women's collection with H&M, under the M by Madonna label.

MADONNA - MADONNA NEGOTIATING FASHION DEAL

Caption: Madonna (Picture) New York premiere of 'Nine' sponsored by Chopard at the Ziegfeld Theatre New York City, USA ....

MADONNA NEGOTIATING FASHION DEAL

Pop superstar MADONNA is set to cash in on her status as a fashion icon - she's in talks to design her own clothing range with bosses at U.S. department store MACy's.
The Material Girl established herself as a trendsetter early on in her career when she became known in the 1980s for her bleached blonde hair, fishnet stockings and her famous coned bra.
Now Madonna is negotiating a lucrative deal with MACy's bosses to bring her style vision to life in a collection of apparel, accessories, underwear and footwear, reports industry publication Women's Wear Daily.
Executives at clothing company Iconix Brand Group Inc. - the same firm which bought Jay-Z's Rocawear line for $204 million (£127.5 million) in 2007 - is believed to be involved in the venture, although a representative has refused to confirm or deny the reports.
Madonna has previously designed a fashion line for high street retailer H&M, which went on sale worldwide in 2007, and she was due to team up with Christian Audigier last year (09) but pulled out of plans at the last minute.

128 artists petition PM against roofless theatre

128 artists from across the cultural scene have written to the Prime Minister telling him they oppose his decision to have a roofless theatre on the former opera house site.
The signatories include Peter Serracino Inglott, Joseph Calleja, Felix Busuttil, Carmine Lauri and Alison White.
Actors, musicians, dancers, singers, directors, choreographers, producers and crew involved in the performing arts and the music scene in Malta signed a letter they presented to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi this evening.
The letter says:
"We are also disappointed that the arguments presented and statements issued by numerous theatre practitioners have not been taken into consideration during the alleged consultation period.
"May we reiterate that the an open-air theatre in its proposed location is operationally challenging due to security measures imposed by any Parliamentary building, limited by weather conditions and also prone to noise pollution: both that which it produces, which can disturb people living in the neighbourhood, and the noise produced around it, such as fireworks, outside festivities, and other factors which can be a severe hindrance to performances."
The artists said that theatre history has demonstrated that the open-air concept has evolved from an acoustically perfect natural environment to a built arena that still managed to create a complete immersive and cathartic experience in a beautiful setting.
"We fail to see how the surrounding environment of the current space can retain this principle. This project also throws up a number of logistical and financial problems which will make the use of the space as likely and as successful as the use of our other open air theatre in Ta' Qali."
They said that contrary to what the Prime Minister stated, open-air theatre was not a new concept to Malta and with a tradition of open-air stage productions dating back 100 years, Maltese theatre practitioners had vast knowledge and experience in the pitfalls and opportunities of open-air experiences.
"Yet, this advice seems to have been totally ignored."
They said Malta still needed a fully-fledged purposely-built space for the performing arts that can cater for the needs of artists, which are not being addressed in the existing theatres such as poor acoustics, backstage facilities and modern amenities.
In the same manner in which new sports complexes, schools, hospitals or parliament buildings were no longer considered a luxury for developed countries, the same should be said for a purposely built public space for creative expression.
It would have been more logical, useful and appropriate if any investment went towards a proper multifunction performance space, they said.
The artists argued that although the proposed project was interesting, it did not contribute to solving the huge shortcomings found in other state theatres but repeated shortcomings and created others of its own.
They said that investment in the professionalisation of artists, technicians and producers should be running parallel to the construction of any space.
"Only in this way can we guarantee that this provides the high-quality performances that Malta, and any performance space, aspire to.
"We urge the Prime Minister to engage in an immediate discussion with theatre practitioners and refrain from acting singlehandedly on behalf of future users of the space.
"We look forward to a time when Renzo Piano’s unstinting efforts to save the space from the hands of politicians can be fully explored and developed not as an afterthought or in competition with parliamentary sittings, housing estate facades or a bus terminus but treated with respect, conviction and expressed as an integral part of Malta’s cultural vision," they said.
They said that ultimately, the performance space should not be seen as a monument, but as a dynamic cultural focus, essential to the successful development of the City Gate Project and the culture led regeneration of Valletta.
THE SIGNATORIES

Francesca Abela Tranter	Artistic Director / choreographer
Jean Pierre Aguis	Actor
Francesca Aquilina	Soprano
Toni Attard	Actor & Theatre Director/ creative industries advisor
Sharon Attard	Actor
Antonella Axisa	Performer
Mario Azzopardi	Theatre Director
Mario Philip Azzopardi	Film and Theatre Director (Toronto)
Dorothy Baldacchino	Soprano & Actor
Andrew Barberi	Singer & Musician
Tanya Bayona	Classical Ballet Teacher and Choreographer
Mark Mifsud Bonnici	Designer
Coryse Borg	Actress and Drama teacher
Elaine Borg	Singer
Frank Bowman	Painter and Designer
Adrian Buckle	Artistic Director & Producer Unifaun Theatre Productions
Maria Buckle	Actor
Albert Buttigieg	Opera Singer
Alfred Buttigieg	Playwright
Felix Busuttil	Director, YADA Dance Company
Vince Briffa	Video and Perfromance Artist
Nanette Brimmer	Actor & Theatre Director
Narcy Calamatta	Theatre Director, Actor and Founder of Zararti Foundation
Joseph Calleja	International Tenor
Robert Calleja	Musician and Choir director
Barry E Calvert	Actor/Director
Julia Calvert	Actor
Monica Calvert	Backstage Crew
Florinda Camillleri	Dancer
Thomas Camilleri	Actor (London's West End)
Sarah Camillieri	Dancer/ Choreographer/ Artist
Edward Caruana Galizia	Actor
Angèle Caruana	Choral Singer
Fiona Cauchi	Singer
Jo Caruana	Theatre Critic and Actress
Irene Christ	Actor, Director, Theatre producer
Josette Ciappara	Theatre practitioner/ Educator
Philip Chircop	Painter
Claire Ciantar	Performing artist
Angele Cristina	Actor and Drama teacher
Norma Cristina	Actor
Tony Cassar Darien	Artistic director/writer
Deedee Clark	Dancer/ Singer/ Actress
Rosetta De Battista	Musician/educator/music therapist
Kate De Cesare	Actor
Edward DeGaetano	Actor
Andre Delicata	Theatre Critic Times of Malta
Christopher Dingli	Actor, Musician (London)
Mark Doneo	Producer and director
Lizzie Eldridge	Theatre artist and writer
Wesley Daniel Ellul	Theatre Director/ Actor
Kathrina Farrugia	Lecturer in Dance Studies, Royal Academy of Dance London
Lino Farrugia	Theatre Director
Gillian Fenech	Choral Singer
Louise Fenech	Actress
Francesca Fenech	Actor, singer, dancer
Karl Fiorini	Composer
Anna Formosa	Actress and applied drama practitioner
Daron Galea	Chroegrapher and Dance teacher
Marco Galea	academic/theatre historian
Yvette Maria Galea	Freelance pianist and accompanist
Christopher Gatt	Theatre director
Isabelle Gatt	Lecturer - Creative and Expressive Arts, Artistic Director - Teatru Qroqq Projects
Fiona Giambra	Musician
Niki Gravino	Music Artist
Maria Grech Ganado	Author
Noel Grech	Musician
Tyrone Grima	Artistic Director, Theatre Encore
Chiara Hyzler	Actor
Victor-Emmanuel Jacono	researcher in performer-pedagogy, theatre maker and scholar
Theresa Krentzlin	Wardrobe MADC
Carmine Lauri	Musician
Joseph Lia	Opera Singer
Pauline Longo	Soprano
John McDonough	Musician
Deborah McNamara	Dance School Principal & International Examiner for the Spanish Dance Society
Maria Pia Meli	Singer, musician, actress
Joe Meli	Producer
Caldon Mercieca	Theatre practitioner/ creative industries advisor
Edward Mercieca	Actor/ Producer FM Theatre Productions
Mario Micallef	Director Talenti Theatrical Co.
Jennifer Micallef	Classical concert pianist
Ninette Micallef	Actor
Immanuel Mifsud	Writer and Theatre Director
Philip Mizzi	Actor
Marco Montalto	Performer - Groups for Human Encounter
Denise Mulholland	Theatre director/producer; actor; singer; teacher of performing arts
Erica Anne Muscat	Actress
Joe Pace	Actor
Krista Paris	Actress/Singer/Dancer and drama teacher
Mik Pisani	Actor
Pierre Portelli	Set Designer
Franica Pulis	Actor
Andrea Pullicino	Designer
Neville Refalo	Actor, Singer and Musician
Mariano Said	Actor
Paul Sebastian Saliba	Musician - Big Band Brothers
Stefan Scerri	Stage Manager
Terry Shaw	Theatre director, Actor and opera singer
Hannah Schembri	Performer
Karl Schembri	Author & journalist
John J Schranz	Director-Pedagogue, Groups for Human Encounter/ Professor of Theory and Philosophy of Theatre in the MSPC Programme of the University of Malta/ Director - ActionBase Studio for Researching Performative Processes/ Co-Director of the Joint European Master's Programme in the Science of Performative Creativity.
Gabrielle Scicluna	Dancer
Alexandra Scicluna	Mezzo- soprano
Peter Serracino Inglott	Opera Librettist and Theatre Studies Coordinator University of Malta
James Spiteri	Actor
Sarah Spiteri	Musician, Music and Visual Arts Co-ordinator
Sharon Spiteri	Director
Simone Spiteri	Actor, playwright, Artistic Director Du' Theatre Group (Malta)
Kristian Spiteri	Musician
Albert-G. Storace	reviewer/critic and broadcaster
Gabi Sultana	Pianist
Erin Stewart Tanti	Theatre producer, director and actor
Marcelle Teuma	Theatre Director/Performer/Educator
Rachael Tedesco Triccas	Performing artist
Jospeh Vella Bondin	Dramatist and Musicologist
Alexander Vella Gregory	Composer & Musician
Deborah Vella	Singer
Joe Vella	Lighting Designer
Joe Quattromani	Actor/ Theatre Director
Michael Quinton	Music Production Spooky Monkey
Alison White Micallef	President Dance Council Malta representing the majority of dance schools in Malta and Gozo Dance Teacher and entertainer
Abigail Williams	Actress
Paul Xuereb	Drama critic and author
MariaElena Zammit	Performer - Groups for Human Encounter
Pia Zammit	Actor & Director Unifaun Theatre
Darrin Zammit Lupi	Performing arts photographer/ actor/ director
Kenneth Zammit Tabona	Performing arts critic

Astronauts Attach 'Room With a View' to Space Station

NASA astronauts have finished attaching a new observation deck to the International Space Station after fighting three jammed bolts and a stuck capture mechanism.

The 1.6-ton, $27 million Cupola observation deck is now attached to the station's new Tranquility module, a 24-foot-long room that's about the size of a small bus, according to Space.com.

The new, 10-foot-wide observation deck will give astronauts unprecedented panoramic views of Earth and space. It features a 31-inch round window in the center, flanked by six smaller windows. The ESA built both Tranquility and Cupola, and are NASA's last major pieces for the $100 billion ISS. (Image credit: NASA)

Women in information technology (IT)

Overview: Several Research white papers on the strategies to accelerate national IT capacity building have zeroed in on the massive involvement of women in the IT development cycle. Compared to other countries, the number of Nigerian women in IT is rather low.
Whereas, the concept of women in IT diffusion has been recognized as a fundamental strategy in attaining global competitiveness in IT for national development, we are yet to explore the colossal opportunities therein. However, reliable information has now revealed that a group of Nigerian women IT Professionals are gearing-up to engage the challenges and are evaluating various models and strategizing on how to enthrone the women as the centre of national development – through IT. My encounter with one of the promising groups has revealed the following – which believe makes an interesting read.
Women in Technology: (WIN-IT) is a fundamental concept designed to accelerate technology development process – with central focus on the intervention and affirmative action for empowering women to excel in mastering Information Technology skills, application, and support services.
Today, relevant studies have sown that this is a logical, economic and cost-effective model for leapfrogging and diffusing IT process delivery – especially for the developing countries. Indeed, it has become a common knowledge that women involvement in IT activities is central to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Our adopted model is training women to working and studying in the technology industries across Nigeria and empowering them to attain higher skills and promote their achievements via relevant events, programs, awards and networks that also provide opportunities for WIN-IT Volunteers to grow-up the leadership ladder and develop their skills.
Introduction: Project Focus: The project is focused on establishing sustainable opportunity to promote and empower the concept of Women in Technology development and accelerated technology diffusion for women at all levels – especially those in the rural areas. To join forces with thousands of Women in the IT Profession and Industry to innovate and create change for a better society
Background: The issue of women’s under-representation in information technology, whether in school, higher education, or industry, has been studied in many ways over several decades. Many of the studies which ask why women avoid IT, or if they enter the field, sooner or later fall away, make explicit recommendations to remedy the situation. However, the proportion of women continues to drop from a high of 40% in 1986, to about 29% at the end of 1999, and is still dropping. Nearly 80% of jobs in IT are in the management information systems departments of non-IT firms, – where women can fit in effectively if they are adequately trained and given the opportunities to deliver IT services.
Vision: “Transforming IT Capacity Building through Women Empowerment” Mission: WIN-IT aims to economically transform and leapfrog Nigeria’s IT delivery landscape, through direct intervention for women empowerment. The program is aimed at promoting awareness and maximizing the benefit of IT diffusion and application to a larger part of society and stakeholders whose responsibility is anchored on their families and require co-ordination and participation around child care challenges.
Model Structures and Program: Win-Back-IT is an inclusive strategic program which addresses the issues of lost grounds in national IT development life cycle. The program will, through the provision of advisory and support services facilitate the development of successful women empowerment project on the long-term – applying focused career strategies.
Apply mentoring techniques to develop and build capacities to empower Women in all Domain of IT activities. The  ”Win-Back-IT” Program will among others:
lTo promote and assist women to develop an effective IT Entrepreneurship start-ups strategy lTo foster Assist you to develop an ongoing career development plan  lEstablish Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for WIN-IT lTo develop strategies for Women Career intervention in IT.
Establish weekend hands-on workshops as convenient window for women the critical state of development.  WIN-IT will register volunteers and seek their input on the following.
lIT and related Technology Career Planning and Coaching lBasic and Advanced level Networking and Mentoring
lAssistance and support on Job Search/Employer Expectations  lDeveloping Career Planning Standards and Monitoring System lEnsure project and program sustainability through constant Reviews  Implementation Strategy includes but not limited to the following:
lEstablish Volunteers Group/Forum
lEstablish WIN-IT Portal (Interactive)
lDevelop On-Line Career Mentoring Program lEstablish WIN-IT Capacity Building Centres in Rural Areas OR  collaborate with existing platforms – for example: Use existing Centres such as IRTC (Rural Internet Centres of NITDA and IRC (Internet Recourse Centres of NCC or CPN Regional Centres
Benefits to the Nation: Based on the old adage of “train a Woman- Train a Nation”, Fostering and promoting a national intervention strategy and affirmative action on the conceptual model of women in Information Technology will:
lSave enormous cost and add-value to IT capacity building and reduce the negative impact of Nigeria’s Digital Divide.
lDeliver accelerated, value-added and economically feasible model for leapfrogging IT Skill capacities for National development.
lContribute significantly for the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – especially in Rural e-Health Delivery (Tele-Medicine, Sanitation etc.), HiV-Aids campaign, Rural Education (improved Computer literacy in Nigeria and Home economics/Child care)
lEnsure that Volunteers Group/Forum emerge for IT Development
lBring together a rich inclusive community social Networking.lImprove IT literacy in the home and nation-wide by about 50% within 24 Month.
lAccelerate the dissemination of critical public information to rural Stakeholders. Eg: About e-Government, Elections, e-Learning, e-Payment Process, Information Security and many more.
lEnhance Youth Development through On-Line Career Mentoring Program and Entrepreneurial activities.
lBring IT closer to the more than 70% of Nigeria’s population living in the Rural Area.
lReduce the cost of IT delivery to the Citizenry by using existing Centres such as IRTC (Rural Internet centres of NITDA and IRC (Internet recourse centres of NCC or CPN Regional Centres to accelerate IT diffusion.
lReduce the Digital divide and fulfils the some of the set target of the United nations (UN) Millennium development Goals (MDGs).