Telecel Foundation graduates 500 learners from DigiTech Academy
The Telecel Ghana Foundation has graduated 500 young learners from the fourth cohort of its DigiTech Academy across five regions.
The graduation ceremonies were held in Yendi in the Northern Region, Sawla in the Savannah Region, Gambaga in the North East Region, Effiakuma in the Western Region and Enchi in the Western North Region.
The events brought together Members of Parliament, district directors of education, traditional leaders, community members, teachers and parents.
The DigiTech Academy is designed for upper primary and junior high school pupils, who undergo a 12-week after-school training in robotics, coding, web design and mobile application development.
At the ceremonies, students showcased more than 80 prototype technologies developed in teams to address challenges within their communities.
The innovations included smart wheelchairs, heartbeat monitoring systems, smart fire extinguishers, automated garage systems, floor-cleaning robots, automated hand dryers, theft alert systems, mobile applications, sun-tracking solar panels, fire alert systems and automated pet feeders.
At the Effiakuma ceremony, the Member of Parliament for Kwesimintsim, Mr Philip Fiifi Buckman, described the programme as an investment in the country’s future innovators.
He expressed appreciation to the Telecel Ghana Foundation for bringing the initiative to young people, noting that it would help nurture talents capable of using technology and local resources to solve community challenges.
Mr Buckman said he strongly believed in nurturing children at an early stage, adding that digital skills could empower the next generation to drive meaningful change.
The ceremonies also featured poetry recitals, choreography and cultural performances.
Outstanding students in robotics, web design and mobile application development in each region received awards, while all participants were presented with certificates.
The Municipal Director of Education in Yendi, Mr Mohammed Mumuni Adams, commended the Telecel Ghana Foundation for complementing classroom learning with practical STEM education.
He said the initiative had helped to build the digital confidence of both learners and teachers, adding that it demonstrated that digital literacy should not be limited to urban centres.
Mr Adams expressed appreciation for the investment in the human capital of communities such as Yendi and others across the country.
The programme forms part of the Telecel Ghana Foundation’s Connected Learning initiative and is implemented in partnership with the Ghana Education Service and the Ghana STEM Centre, with support from Mingo Foundation and Asustem Robotics.
In addition to training students, participating teachers also receive professional development to ensure that the knowledge gained is sustained within the schools.
The Head of Foundation, Sustainability and External Communications at Telecel Ghana, Ms Rita Agyeiwaa Rockson, said the programme was designed to move young people from merely consuming technology to creating it.
She encouraged the learners to build on the knowledge acquired, continue exploring technology and share their skills with their peers.
Ms Rockson said the training marked the beginning of their journey as innovators and problem-solvers.
The Chief of the Kwesimintsim Traditional Area, Nana Egudzi Essoun III, praised the initiative, noting that it had revealed the immense potential of young people.
He urged the graduates to continue developing their skills to create better opportunities for themselves and their communities.
One of the beneficiaries, Shaban Asmat, a pupil of Presbyterian Junior High School in Yendi, said the programme had changed his perception of technology.
He explained that he previously believed mobile applications could only be developed by phone manufacturers, but had now learned that anyone with the right skills could create them.
BY TIMES REPORTER
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