Accra, Ghana//-MTN Ghana says it is continuing to champion women and girls’ participation in the digital economy to ensure that females have equal opportunities in that growing ICT economy.
The telecom services provider noted that providing girls with equal access to digital training and education is crucial in shaping a strong digital future.
The Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer of MTN Ghana, Adwoa Wiafe gave the assurance at an event to mark this year’s International Day of Girls in ICT held in Accra.
According to her, MTN Ghana has been promoting Girls in ICT in basic and senior high schools as well as tertiary institutions across the country for many years.
The company she said has so far invested GHs 12.6 million to support the Girls in ICT project led by the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, benefiting over 8,000 girls across Ghana.
While MTN Ghana through its Foundation has also established Robotics and ICT facilities in collaboration with institutions and communities to bridge the digital gap.
Recently, the Foundation handed over a state-of-the-art Robotics Centre to the Mamfe Methodist Girls SHS at a cost of GHC2,280,489.
The facility includes a 100-seater hall for Robotics training and practice, a research room equipped with computers for teachers and students, robotics equipment, furniture, and internet access.
MTN Ghana Foundation also provides training and coding workshops for girls in Basic and Senior High Schools.
The Foundation’s strategy is to focus largely on digital skills training and facilitation to prepare the youth for emerging job opportunities, Madam Wiafe said.
She called on Corporate Ghana to join the efforts in increasing female representation in ICT/STEM.
MTN Ghana is therefore celebrating the Day with the theme “Leadership” which is focused on the importance of strong female role models in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers.
In celebrating the day, the Ministry of Communications and Digitalization in partnership with MTN Ghana hosted ICT students from Aburi Girls SHS at the MTN House for a facility visit and interaction with female engineers.
Additionally, the MTN Ghana Foundation would partner with Mobile Web Ghana, an ICT company, to encourage girls in junior high schools in and around the Agbogba community to pursue STEM careers.
Instructively, the International Day of Girls in ICT is observed on April 25th each year and is an initiative supported by ITU Member States to encourage girls and young women to pursue careers in the field of information and communication technologies (ICT).
