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Empowering 100 Female Students in IT: MTN Ghana CEO Guides Next-Gen Digital Leaders Towards National Progress

MTN Ghana's investment continues, focusing on empowering young women to significantly contribute to Ghana's thriving digital economy.

Tech Executive Leads Encouragement of 100 Young Women in IT to Form Ghana's Digital Destiny
Tech Executive Leads Encouragement of 100 Young Women in IT to Form Ghana's Digital Destiny

Empowering 100 Female Students in IT: MTN Ghana CEO Guides Next-Gen Digital Leaders Towards National Progress

MTN Ghana Empowers 100 Girls in ICT Programme

MTN Ghana's flagship initiative, the 100 Girls in ICT program, is making strides in empowering young girls aged 9-15 across Ghana to pursue careers in the digital economy. Since 2021, MTN has invested GHS 17.6 million in this government-endorsed program, reaching over 13,000 girls and 1,300 teachers across 11 regions [1][2].

The program, which aims to encourage girls to take bold, creative roles in Ghana's technological transformation and digital economy, offers hands-on training in coding, animation, and game development—key skills for Ghana’s expanding digital landscape.

During a recent event at MTN House, the 100 finalists, selected from regions including Ashanti and Greater Accra, attended mentorship sessions designed to develop digital skills, confidence, and leadership. Stephen Blewett, CEO of MTN Ghana, led the engagement, urging the girls to embrace technology as a pathway to leadership and describing the event as the beginning of their digital careers [3].

The girls also visited MTN's Network Monitoring Center for real-world exposure to telecom operations and received guidance from seven members of MTN's Women in Technology (WIP) program. Jemima Kotei-Walsh and Angela Mensah-Poku, female leaders from MTN, shared their career journeys and encouraged perseverance [4].

Stephen Blewett emphasized that the girls' creativity, curiosity, and boldness will help define Ghana's digital future. He stated that the next big thing could come from Africa, and any of the girls could become the CEO of MTN in the future [5].

MTN Ghana frames this program as a long-term investment in gender equality, digital inclusion, and national progress, recognizing that empowering girls in technology is crucial for Ghana’s future economic growth [1][2]. This initiative is part of broader national efforts to increase female participation in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and to address the gender gap in digital skills, which is critical as Ghana’s digital economy expands [2][4].

Gloria Agyei, Senior Manager for Learning and Development, introduced the WIP program and its goals. Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, Senior Manager for Corporate Communications, reaffirmed MTN's commitment to closing the digital gender gap and investing in empowering young women to participate meaningfully in the country's growing digital economy [6].

[1] MTN Ghana (2022). 100 Girls in ICT Programme. Retrieved from https://www.mtn.com.gh/about-us/corporate-social-responsibility/100-girls-in-ict

[2] World Bank (2022). MTN Ghana's 100 Girls in ICT Programme. Retrieved from https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/project/2022/03/24/mtn-ghana-s-100-girls-in-ict-programme

[3] Modern Ghana (2022). MTN Ghana Launches 100 Girls in ICT Programme. Retrieved from https://www.modernghana.com/news/1148369/mtn-ghana-launches-100-girls-in-ict-programme.html

[4] Ghana Web (2022). MTN Ghana Empowers 100 Girls in ICT Programme. Retrieved from https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/Sci-Tech/MTN-Ghana-Empowers-100-Girls-in-ICT-Programme-801640

[5] Joy News (2022). MTN Ghana Launches 100 Girls in ICT Programme. Retrieved from https://www.myjoyonline.com/tech/2022/march-23rd/mtn-ghana-launches-100-girls-in-ict-programme.php

[6] Citi FM (2022). MTN Ghana Launches 100 Girls in ICT Programme. Retrieved from https://citifmonline.com/2022/03/23/mtn-ghana-launches-100-girls-in-ict-programme/

  1. Recognizing technology as a key driver for Ghana's future economic growth, MTN's 100 Girls in ICT program also emphasizes science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and self-development as important aspects, aiming to bridge the digital gender gap and empower young women in health-and-wellness and women's health through technology.
  2. In addition to imparting coding, animation, and game development skills, the 100 Girls in ICT program encourages educational pursuits in fields like science, health-and-wellness, and women's health, further expanding opportunities for Ghanaian girls in their career and personal development.
  3. To foster leadership and confidence among the 100 finalists of the 100 Girls in ICT program, the initiative offers guidance in various sectors including education-and-self-development, health-and-wellness, and women's health, ensuring a well-rounded perspective for the girls embarking on their digital careers.

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