Ursula Owusu-Ekuful in a handshake with Yayra Quao
A Junior High School Form Two student of St. Silvanus Catholic School in the Ga West District in the Greater Accra Region, Yayra Paulina Quao, has emerged winner of the 2024 Girls in ICT contest.
The Girls in ICT project is an initiative spearheaded by the Ministry of Communication and Digitalisation to provide digital skills, training, and mentorship opportunities to girls, to enable them pursue careers in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
This year’s contest, according to the judges, was very keen and competitive as girls from various Junior High Schools were prepared to win the ultimate prize.
Of the 100 girls selected for the finals, Yayra Paulina Quao topped all, accruing 100 percentage points.
She received a cash prize of GH¢3,000, an award plaque, a laptop, and a trip to America courtesy of The Diaspora African Forum (DAF).
Delma Saeed Foroco from Accra College of Education School, Ayawaso West District, and Nicole Addey of Service Basic School, Michelle Camp Kpone Katamanso secured second and third positions with scoring points of 99% and 98% respectively.
They received GH¢2,500 and GH¢2,000 respectively alongside an award plaque. All the 100 finalists received brand new laptops to enhance their digital skills.
Minister for Communication and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, congratulated the girls for their dedication to enhancing their digital skills to bridge the digital divide.
Speaking on the launch of the Ghana Girls in ICT Trust, Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful said the Trust was created out of the desire of the Ministry of Communication and Digitalisation to offer more girls in-depth training, with age-appropriate content, and a developmental curriculum.
Designed to take world-class best practice training and mentoring to girls between 18 and 22 where they live and go to school, the minister said the Trust will develop face to face and online training programming offered to young women out of Community ICT labs in their communities.
“Specifically, the Trust will be a permanent resource, introducing girls to ICT in primary school, offering certifiable learning/training opportunities in secondary, and providing support and guidance to secure career opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in tertiary,” she said.
She disclosed that the Trust would provide complete transparency and accountability, providing regular reports and audits and highly valuing the input of all stakeholders.
Greater Accra Regional Minister, Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover, commended the ministry and its supporting partners for equipping girls with ICT skills.
“This ICT training skills is not just a choice but a necessity. It is our responsibility to ensure that they are not left behind in this digital age.
“By providing them with the tools and knowledge to navigate and excel in the ICT sector, the government is laying a solid foundation for a more inclusive and innovative future,” he said.
BY Prince Fiifi Yorke