In celebration of Girls in ICT Day, observed on Thursday, April 25th, 2024, AT, Ghana's most innovative telecommunications company, hosted students from Aburi Girls Senior High School.
The event, held at AT's headquarters in Accra, aimed to give students an opportunity to interact with ICT industry professionals and gain practical knowledge of ICT in the workplace.
In his address to the students, AT’s CEO, Leo Skarlatos, emphasized the transformative power of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), encouraging the students to employ technology as a tool for positive change. "Technology is about using innovation to solve real-life problems and make a meaningful impact.
As future leaders in ICT, you have the power to shape the world by using technology with purpose. Whether you're creating apps to improve people's lives or developing software to address social issues, the possibilities are endless," he said.
The visit also included a Q&A session, where students had the opportunity to ask questions to a panel of women from various departments at AT. This interactive segment allowed the girls to envision themselves as future leaders in the ICT industry and provided an opportunity to ask questions about overcoming challenges and seizing opportunities in the ICT sector.
One of the panelists, Talitha Mensa-Bonsu, Head of Data Network at AT, shared her personal journey of overcoming obstacles to pursue a career in engineering, despite not having an initial background in the field. Her story resonated with the students, illustrating that passion and determination can lead to success in technology.
Leo Skarlatos also emphasized the importance of diversity and inclusion in the technology industry, commending the female ICT teachers present. "As we work towards gender equality, having more female ICT teachers can inspire more girls to pursue careers in technology," he said.
He also encouraged teachers to use diverse teaching methods to engage and inspire more girls to consider careers in tech. This year's Girls in ICT theme of leadership was incorporated into the event, with a focus on empowering young girls to aspire to take on leadership roles in the ICT sector. This initiative aligns with the National Girls-in-ICT Initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Communications and Digitalization.