The savannah regional Minister, Mr. Saeed Muhazu Jibriel has stated that ICT education is a one of the potent keys to addressing the country’s education and economic development challenges in today’s world.
The Minister made the statement on Tuesday, 9th May, 2023 in a key note address at the climax of the 2023 Girl’s In ICT Programme held in Damongo.
He explained that as one of the newly created regions though bounded with huge natural resources, the region is confronted with challenges especially in education and other economic development areas which requires that the find innovative ways to addressing them, adding that “ICT education is one of the potent keys in addressing those challenges in today’s world”.
He said in organizing such a Programme for the girls and young women in the region, shows the government’s commitment to the United Nations and the international telecommunications Union’s call for action to empower women and girls to achieve their goals and aspirations in information communication technology.
Mr. Muhazu also stated that, as many of them are aware, ICT is a powerful tool that can help accelerate progress towards achieving gender equality and economic development, a reason for which such innovative programmes like the Girl’s in ICT Programme was gladly welcomed in the savannah region, noting that many of the girls today are at a point where they as leaders and role models needs to guide them in thinking about their future careers and therefore hoped that the Programme triggers the girls into taking up ICT studies very serious in their homes and in their schools.
The savannah regional Minister also added that, the country is living in a digital age where almost everything people do and the gadget the use in their lives is driven by technology which fondly describes today’s generation as “I generation”.
He further noted that, ICT is the fastest growing sector around the world yet research found out that, many of their girls in that part of the country are lacking access to ICT infrastructure and equipment such as computers, Tablets, and other accessories coupled with a perception by many that, ICT is for males and therefore hindering the involvement of girls in ICT and its related fields.
Again, he indicated that, statistics has continuously shown that men and boys dominate the STEM and ICT fields and therefore urged the girls to take their studies seriously as indicated to them by their mentors at the mentorship programme.
He also admonished that, the STEM field is the way to get to where they want to get to in the nearest future and therefore encouraged them to explore other ICT education by making use of the knowledge gained through the programme.
He also called on the girls to strive to be the best that they can in any field of their choice or career they would have chosen and must diligently learn and be curious in everything they do and also try to remain positive no matter what the circumstance may be.
He finally congratulated all the young girls who have gone through the training of such an impactful programme for their success in the future.
The Girl’s In ICT project seeks among others, to teach young girls across the country some basic ICT skills so as to prepare them for future career choices. It is also part of the government’s strategies to ensure that Ghana achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 5.
A total of 1000 primary and junior high school girls selected from seven districts in the Savannah Region were introduced to ICT programmes such as coding, software development and data analysis during the four-day camping in Damongo.
An eleven-year-old basic six pupil of the T.I. Ahmadiya Islamic School at Kpalbusi in the North East Gonja District, Mohammed Rahimmah beat 999 girls in the mentorship programme, scoring 92 out of 100 in an assessment test.
Out of the 1000 girls, 100 of them whose performances were rated higher than their colleagues in the test conducted were awarded with certificates of participation. They were also given brand new laptop computers.
