50 Youth benefit from ICT empowerment training

Fifty young persons have benefitted from a three-day training in information, and communication technology (ICT) aimed at equipping them with essential digital skills for the future. 

The programme, which was held at the Accra Digital Centre last Thursday, had participants drawn from various youth groups, with 40 per cent being females eager to dive into the world of technology and innovation.

The programme featured workshops on coding, website development, graphic design and digital marketing, alongside introduction to advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. 

Hands-on training

It was an initiative by a social-transformation-driven non-governmental organisation (NGO), Lady Margaret Foundation (LMF).

The sessions, which were facilitated by young industry experts, provided hands-on training and real-world insights, sparking enthusiasm among the young attendees.

The training also fostered connections between participants and professionals in the tech industry, offering mentorship opportunities and insights into various career paths. 

Rationale

At the event’s closing ceremony, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the LMF, Margaret Davids Opoku Agyeman, highlighted the importance of such initiatives in preparing the next generation for success.

“This training is not just about learning technical skills; it’s about empowering young people to become creators, problem-solvers and leaders in the digital economy,” she said.

Mrs Opoku Agyeman also indicated that her passion for seeing young people thrive and be job creators or self-employed underscored the purpose of organising the tech training.

"It was about time our young people moved away from seeking jobs to being self-employed or job creators. The biggest avenue for the current generation is through technology, and it is, therefore, important that we train as many as possible to ensure that they have the needed skills to meet the contemporary demands.

“This training was motivated by my desire to see young people work for themselves and create jobs instead of relying on getting employed for non-existing jobs," she indicated.

Embrace innovation

One of the trainers, Jeffrey Osei Newton, a tech entrepreneur, encouraged the youth to embrace innovation.

“The future belongs to those who are willing to learn, adapt and lead in the tech space.

“There is more opportunity for us young people in the tech space than we can imagine and we need to equip ourselves through some of these to be able to embrace the opportunities,” he said.

A beneficiary,  Abigail Tam, who shared her newfound confidence in exploring a tech career, said: “I’ve always been curious about coding, but didn’t know where to start.

“This programme has given me the foundation I need and the belief that I can succeed in this field,” she said.