It was an atmosphere of excitement, inspiration and pride at Telecel Ghana’s annual event to award scholarships to outstanding female engineering students from universities across the country.
Ten final year female engineering students from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of Ghana (UG), University of Cape Coast (UCC), Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU) and University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) have been announced as recipients of this year’s scheme.
Introduced in 2011, the Telecel Ghana Women Engineering Scholarship Program (FESSP) has supported and empowered 90 outstanding final year female engineering students through mentoring, financial assistance and technology tools. Through FESSP and other initiatives to improve talent diversity, Telecel Ghana aims to address the gender imbalance in telecommunications engineering and inspire more young women to pursue technical careers in the field.
Each of the ten recipients received funding of five thousand Ghanaian cedis to cover tuition fees and final year fees, a new tablet with a six-month free data package, access to mentors and internship opportunities, national service, the graduate program as well as full time.
Speaking at the event, the CEO of Telecel Ghana, Ing. Patricia Obo-Nai, thanked parents and school principals for their immense support to the awardees, expressing their satisfaction with the performance of the FESSP graduates from previous years.
โYour mentorship and subsequent experience at Telecel will equip you with practical industry knowledge that is the real-world reality of what you are taught in school. Make the most of your mentors’ time, knowledge and experience now,” Ing. Obo-Nai said.
The field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) has traditionally been dominated by men. Telecel is committed to improving diversity and inclusion in engineering to increase gender representation and promote an inclusive work culture.
The Human Resources Manager at Telecel Ghana, Hannah Ashiokai Akrong, said a major objective of the FESSP is to help scholarship recipients launch their careers through rotational programs in various Telecel departments to learn first-hand how the business works telecommunications.
“Diversity and inclusion are important to us at Telecel because we value diversity of thought and perspective around the table at work. This initiative helps us bring more great and talented women through the door to improve our performance .With the right attitude and attitude if you apply yourself to your work here, you will exceed expectations,โ he said.
Danielle, one of the award recipients from the University of Cape Coast – a new partner institution this year – said she was hopeful the experience would give her the push she needed to turn her academic knowledge into practical, hands-on industry experience . โI am very excited about the mentoring opportunities. I believe there will be a lot to learn from the seasoned professionals here at Telecel Ghana.โ
The Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the Ghana University of Telecommunications, Dr. Ruhiya Abubakar, said initiatives like this are vital in encouraging young women to pursue careers in engineering and other fields. “This program will go a long way in bridging the gap between academia and industry, and I think that’s very commendable.”
Telecel Ghana’s FESSP is a remarkable initiative that demonstrates the organization’s unwavering commitment to empowering women and bridging the gender gap in STEM fields.
The program’s success stories demonstrate the program’s significant impact on the lives of young women in Ghana. By investing in the next generation of female engineers, Telecel Ghana is helping to create a diverse and inclusive workforce that drives innovation and growth.