The National Communications Authority (NCA has presented 80 laptops to 80 selected participants from four regions as part of the “Open Day” event for the National Girls in ICT celebration which was held at the NCA Tower in Accra. The participants comprised twenty (20) girls each from the Oti, Central, Western North and North East Regions.
Ms. Olivia Okailey Quartey, the Deputy Director-General for Managerial Operations at the NCA, welcomed the girls on behalf of the Director-General, Mr. Joe Anokye.
In her remarks, she expressed her delight at seeing such young girls demonstrate an interest in ICT. She stated that because ICT has become a very integral part of today’s job market, it must be embraced completely. She further charged the girls to be involved in seizing the opportunity given considering that the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation (MoCD) is committed to championing this initiative. “It is our hope that the Girls in ICT initiative will change and propel you all to further heights, as you are the future of the country. Take the opportunity and run with it,” she urged the young girls.
Speaking during the event’s motivational session, some female NCA staff members noted that women are underrepresented in the field of ICT, which is why this programme fosters an environment that empowers and encourages young girls to consider career paths in the field of ICT. The girls were further motivated to update themselves and work hard as the opportunities are endless. Among the female NCA staff who engaged the girls were Flora Okine (Engineering), Gifty Dadebea Adjei (Cybersecurity), Elizabeth Essel (Legal), Wilhemina Asomaning (Human Resource) and Mercy Obeng-Dapaah (Consumer and Corporate Affairs).
Miss. Millicent Abra Aidoo-Buameh, one of the supervisors, expressed gratitude to the NCA on behalf of the eighty (80) participants and indicated that the timing of the laptop donations to the participants has come at an opportune time and assured the Authority of their use for the intended purpose.
She added that despite the initiative’s remarkable achievements, gaps in access to ICT education and lack of tools for ICT education persist, and therefore encouraged all and sundry to follow NCA’s lead in supporting this initiative.
