We need more males to encourage females to venture into male dominated industries.

That is a recommendation by the Former Vice-Chancellor of the Koforidua Technical University (KTU), Prof. (Mrs.) Smile Dzisi.

Discussing her research findings at the 11^th Sustainable Education and Development Research Conference 2022 in Kumasi, Prof. Dzisi found that a large number of women social entrepreneurs in especially the IT/Software Development, Construction, and the Mining industries were encouraged by males as compared to females.

“The male factor played a big role. Most people who encouraged them were males. 55 percent who encouraged them were males,” she found.

The research titled, “Female Social Entrepreneurship in Male-Dominated Industries in Ghana and Agenda 2030” sought to find out the challenges women social entrepreneurs face in perceived male dominated industries and ways to overcome them.

The research sampled 30 women social entrepreneurs in the IT/ Software Development, Construction and Mining industries in Ghana.

The study revealed that the major challenges these women encounter include; socio-cultural, sexual harassment and lack of support services. The findings detail gender inequalities in access to land, due to traditional beliefs and other societal stereotypes on the type of industries women can engage in successful entrepreneurial ventures.

The study also indicated that these women social entrepreneurs’ activities have undoubtedly challenged gender inequality (SDG 5), and contributed significantly to addressing societal problems and improving quality of lives in their communities (SDG 1, 4, 6, 8). A positive step towards Agenda 2030.

The study found women entrepreneurs in the mining and construction industries were mostly middle-aged. A contrast in the IT sector who were mostly young. “It means, we should be encouraging a lot of the young ladies to venture into the mining and construction sector,” she advised.

The conference showcased several peer-reviewed papers relating to Engineering, Built Environment, Hospitality and Tourism, Food Science, Oil, Gas and Energy among others.

The conference aimed to provide a platform for capacity building and networking among researchers in Africa.