Telecel

Telecel Ghana Foundation has launched the Telecel Digitech Academy at St. Cecilia RC School, Hodome in the Volta Region, to equip young students across Ghana with the essential digital skills required for the future. The Telecel Digitech Academy is a hands-on practical approach to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education with the aim to prepare the next generation of Ghanaians for the evolving global economy.

Speaking at the launch event, Augusta Andrews, Director of Legal and External Affairs at Telecel Ghana, emphasized the academy’s mission of empowering students, particularly young girls.

“The Telecel Digitech Academy is not just about providing technological tools, but empowering our youth to be creators, problem-solvers, and leaders. Our goal is to give as many students as possible the opportunity to succeed in the digital economy,” she stated. The academy places a strong focus on inclusivity, ensuring that 70% of participants are girls, addressing the gender gap in STEM education across the country.

The Telecel Digitech Academy, under the Foundation’s connected learning pillar, will focus on providing practical knowledge in robotics, programming, and website development, ensuring students are not only consumers of technology but creators and innovators. The initiative is also part of the Foundation’s broader commitment to bridging the digital divide and fostering future-ready skills for students in both urban and rural areas.

In support of the initiative, the Director of the National STEM Centre Mrs. Olivia Serwaa Opare, stressed on the importance of partnership and collaboration to achieve Ghana’s digital agenda. In a speech read on her behalf, she said, “programs like the Telecel Digitech Academy are shaping Ghana’s future. To truly empower our youth and prepare them for a competitive global market, we must ensure that they do not just use technology but understand and master it,” she added that digital literacy and STEM education are no longer optional but essential for the country’s growth.

David Asumadu, CEO of Asustem Robotics, one of the implementing partners in the program, highlighted the academy’s emphasis on practical application. “We are not just teaching students how to code or build robots. We are preparing them for the future of work, where technology will be at the core of everything,” he explained. The academy’s curriculum covers website development, scratch programming, Internet of Things (IoT), and robotics, providing students with the tools to innovate in various fields. He further encouraged students to embrace the skills they acquire, noting, “After this training, you’ll be able to develop websites, work on AI projects, and apply your knowledge in the real-world challenges.”

The Telecel Digitech Academy will run along the GES school term and is designed to supplement traditional classroom education with project-based learning. 

Source: Telecel Global

Telecel Ghana Foundation in partnership with SHE Hub Ghana has trained 140 women entrepreneurs from the informal sector in  Kumasi on digital and financial skills as part of the telecommunications giant’s annual Ashanti Month celebrations.

Fusing digital and financial skills with entrepreneurship, the training is aimed at exposing women business owners in the informal sector to digital and financial tools that will elevate their businesses to new heights to promote inclusive economic growth.

The women, who represent a diverse group of vocational traders include hairdressers, dressmakers, traders, and agribusiness owners, were each presented with a digital phone and a year’s supply of mobile data by the telco at the end of the training, a move designed to help them access the critical digital tools and apply their new skills to expand their market reach.

Delivering the keynote at the opening ceremony, Board Chair and Co-founder of Telecel Group, Nicolas Bourg highlighted the long-term value of the skills they will acquire and the advantages it would afford them as business owners in today’s rapidly evolving economy.

“Having a good understanding of digital tools and financial management skills will help you connect with a wider customer base through online platforms, expand your market reach and assist you in making informed financial decisions to secure your business’ future. Utilise the opportunity to ensure the growth of your business” Nicolas said”.

The training forms part of Telecel Ghana’s 2024 Ashanti Month celebrations in Kumasi, which include key activities such as headlining the 67th Asantehene Open Golf Tournament, customer visits by senior management, health screenings, clearing the medical bills of indebted patients in the regional hospital and market activations.

Head of Foundation, Sustainability and External Communications, Rita Agyeiwaa Rockson, explained the purpose and significance of the digital and financial skills training in expanding businesses. “This training is an opportunity to level the playing field for women in the informal sector who face barriers in accessing the tools and knowledge that could help them grow. Today, that changes. We are giving the beneficiaries of the training the intellectual and physical tools to unlock the full potential of their businesses.”

The training module focused on digital tools for business promotion – the use of mobile apps, social media, and e-commerce platforms to improve service delivery and expand customer reach; and secondly, financial literacy – budgeting, record-keeping, and utilising mobile financial services to improve financial management and support sustainable business growth.

Each of the participants shared updates on their business and how the training will help them scale, as well as asked questions on several areas of the training for better grasp. At the end of the training, each received a smart phone with a special Telecel package of 2.5GB data every month for a year.

Training participant and owner of BLERG Couture, Priscilla Osei Brempong, was excited and grateful for the opportunity to build her capacity through the digital and financial skills training. “I’ve always wanted to reach more customers and grow my business. With the digital phone and data, I can now advertise online and manage my finances more easily. This training is exactly what I needed to take my business to the next level,” Priscilla said.

Source: Telecel Global

The Chief of Staff at Telecel Group, who also oversees the Africa Startup Initiative Programme (ASIP), Eleanor Azar, has called for increased investment and consultative support to strengthen Ghana’s growing tech startup ecosystem.

“Ghana has immense talent and potential in the tech start-up space. We are happy to have supported 40 start-ups for the four cohorts of ASIP who are tackling local problems in their communities. 

However, the reality is that startups still face barriers that prevent them from scaling, including access to sufficient capital and the strategic advice to grow and navigate challenges in their markets. These are critical gaps that need to be addressed,” she said.

In her keynote address at the opening of the Tech in Ghana Conference in Accra, she shared insights on ASIP, a corporate social responsibility initiative by Telecel Group, to set the tone for two days of discussions and showcase of Ghana’s talent in technology and innovation.

She highlighted the significant strides that ASIP has made in the last four years to accelerate the growth of high-potential tech startups across Africa through a blend of funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities, with a focus on underserved markets in countries including Ghana.

On the theme: “Security, Synergy and Storytelling”, the two-day conference and exhibition brought together entrepreneurs, investors, tech leaders, diplomats and policy makers across Ghana to discuss the future of digital innovation on the continent.

About ASIP

Since its inception in 2019, ASIP has provided financial and mentorship support to a diverse range of startups through its global network of over 3000 mentors and $750,000 in total benefits. 

The beneficiary startups, with 70 per cent being women-led, have gone on to create about 4,000 jobs in the last four years.

Call for collaboration

Ms Azar advocated for collaborative efforts and partnerships to nurture the growth and innovation of African early-stage businesses, urging government bodies, investors, and corporate entities to work together to create a more conducive environment.

“We believe that sustainable collaboration between the private sector, government, and international partners will help create an enabling and supportive environment where startups grow and contribute meaningfully to the economy. 

These startups are within the communities and know the existing problems better and their solutions can help tackle the challenges the communities face, if given the right investment and advisory support,” she added.

She said through ASIP, Telecel Group aims to provide African startups with access to both local and international investors, mentorship and capacity building programmes that can help them scale and compete globally. 

She pointed out that ASIP has already seen success with several startups from the four cohorts, and it is committed to make a bigger impact in Ghana’s rapidly growing tech ecosystem.

Source: Telecel Global