MTN, Women In Tech Launches Girl Code

Information Technology is the cornerstone of modern day development as MTN Ghana Foundation in collaboration with Women in Tech launches Girl Code to impact and encourage women between the ages of 18 and 30years to explore the opportunities in IT.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Corporate Service Executive of MTN, Cynthia Lumor said MTN Ghana Foundation is embarking on this project with the primary objectives of encouraging young women to participate in coding and computer programming typically dominated by males.

She noted that participants will be selected from tertiary institutions in four regions in Greater Accra, Central, Ashanti and Northern region.

Mrs. Lumor added that the MTN Girl Code project is focused on setting up an Apps Camp to train young females in Mobile Apps development, Internet of Things (IoT) project development and animated video creation.

She indicated that at the end of the camp, cash prizes will be awarded to the top finalists and more importantly, the best projects designed and developed from the three programme areas will be selected for entry into the MTN Apps Challenge.

“It is our hope that this project will strengthen the skills of existing and aspiring female developers, engineers and animation designers and also increase the number of females with the requisite skills to compete in future editions of the MTN Apps Challenge. This project is aligned to MTN Ghana Foundation’s ambition to increase the participation of ladies in the MTN Apps Challenge currently from less than 3% to an appreciable percentage in the next three years,” she stated.

The Corporate Service Executive emphasized that by training more women in the sector, the benefits of Apps development and ICT as a whole will be extended to the larger society adding that ultimately, it will improve the livelihood of people in communities across Ghana.

“It is also our firm belief that our drive towards increasing access to ICT throughout the country can be fully achieved through the involvement of more females in the sector,” Cynthia Lumor intimated.

Farida Bedwei, a Software Engineer and Director of Logiciel, encouraged women using her example as a software developer and the challenges and difficulties she encountered on her way.

She urged women to see those challenges and trials as an opportunity to work towards solving societal needs.

Founder of Women in Tech Africa, Ethel Cofie indicated that technology and entrepreneurship is inclusive of men and women and our vision is to ensure that technology becomes the driving force for economic growth in Africa.

“So part of what we are doing is that we are having a rigorous application process, the best and innovative ideas will make it through to the boot camp. We are also in the relevant ministry, the Accra Digital Centre as well as other arms of to ensure that whatever innovation comes out of it the country as a whole will get the best out of it,” she stated.

A female Apps developer, Vida Anima Ackon, CEO of Condra Solutions noted that those who solve problems in this world are the ones that are remembered, honored, hailed and respected.

“Coding gives you the opportunity to solve problems to impact people’s lives. I used my skills to make learning fun and easier for children. I noticed it was very boring and less interesting even as a victim in school. So I decided to develop something interesting so the child can go through it and their academic performances will be improved,” she stated.

Vida Anima Ackon therefore encouraged every young ladies of age to take advantage of this opportunity to make a difference in their lives and the communities as a whole.