Minister encourages girls to seize every opportunity to excel in technology

By Zeenatu ABUBAKAR, Accra

The Minister for Communication and Digitalisation, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has urged young girls to embrace their beginnings and seize every opportunity to excel in technology.

She noted that a career in technology presents numerous benefits, such as increased career opportunities, personal empowerment, and the ability to drive innovation in various fields.

The Minister said this at the National Girls in ICT Day event held in Accra, in collaboration with MTN Ghana and the Ministry of Communication and Digitalisation.

The event, held under the theme ‘Leadership,’ saw 100 girls awarded laptops to aid in their digital journey; with the top three achievers receive cash prizes, laptops, and bags.

Ursula Owusu-Ekuful encouraged the girls to build on the foundation laid by the programme, noting the importance of digital skills in today’s world

“We are in a digital age, and this Girls in ICT programme is a deliberate attempt to break barriers, dispel myths, and build a welcoming digital future for all girls.” she stressed.

She further noted the need for sustained efforts and resources to ensure the longevity and impact of the programme to sponsors at the event.

“We want to create an inclusive environment where girls can explore and excel in ICT. Almost 14,000 girls have benefited so far, and we want every girl in this country to have this opportunity,” she said.

Also at the event, the Minister launched the Ghana Girls in ICT Trust to scale up the training of young girls in Information, Communication and Technology.

The Trust will ensure a sustained pipeline of trained and empowered girls and women while creating an enabling national environment for young women in ICT and STEM.

Ursula Owusu-Ekuful explained that the establishment of the Fund is important to address the funding challenges associated with the programme.

She indicated that the Trust will clear the path for a public-private sector partnership that will bring on board more partners to keep the programme running.

“Funding has always been a challenge but with the Trust in place now I’m going to have a meeting with potential donors from this meeting and several of them have expressed an interest in assisting us but some were reluctant to do so because it was a purely governmental initiative.

“The Trust is going to be a public-private partnership so that donor agencies, individuals, and companies are all welcome to be Trustees and to consider funding the Trust so they can include it in their annual budget and we can have a sustainable stream of funding for the project,” she explained.

Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer of MTN Ghana, Adwoa Afriyie Wiafe also at the event, announced that MTN has invested $15.6 million in ICT training for girls and teachers across Ghana from 2021 to 2024.

She mentioned that, this substantial investment has enabled the training of 9,000 girls and 900 teachers in essential ICT skills, such as coding, website design, game development, and animation.

She highlighted that this initiative spans multiple regions: North-East, Western-North, Ahafo, Bono-East, Bono, Savannah, Northern, Eastern, and Greater Accra.

She emphasized MTN’s aim to bridge the digital divide, equipping young girls and educators with the necessary skills to succeed in the digital era.

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover, also underscored the significance of the initiative in empowering young girls with ICT skills.

He highlighted the necessity of equipping girls with ICT skills in an era where technology drives global development.

“It is our responsibility to ensure they are not left behind in this digital age by providing them with the requisite tools and knowledge to navigate and excel in the ICT sector. The government has laid the foundation for a more inclusive and innovative future,” he said.

He commended parents and guardians for their support, noting that their encouragement and belief in their children’s potential were crucial to their success.

 He called for continued efforts to improve the lives of girls and young women, emphasizing the importance of creating an environment where they can thrive and contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic growth of the region and the country.