As part of its efforts to generate the interest of females in the field of Information Communications Technology (ICT), the GIMPA School of Technology has launched the Women in Information Technology and Engineering (WITE) programme in Accra.

The initiative on the theme: Empowering Women in Information Technology and Engineering is to encourage females in the Junior, Senior High Schools and Tertiary institutions to consider IT and engineering as a career.

Speaking at the launch, Coordinator of WITE, Felicia Engmann said the objective of the project is to connect female students to successful women in IT and engineering to be their role models, provide career guidance and mentorship.

She revealed that, some IT companies have agreed to mentor the students to give them practical tutorial of whatever they learn in class.

Through this project, Felicia Engmann said the GIMPA School of Technology intends to break the myths preventing women from choosing careers in IT and engineering.

She added that, activities lined up include the WITE schools and individual competitions, school tours, mentorship programmes among others.

Keynoted speaker at the event, Natalie Anoma who is the head of eProcess International SA, Ecobank Group Technology, encouraged the females to take up science, technology and engineering based courses to enable them participate in developing innovative engineering solutions.

She charged parents to desist from stereotyping females as less intelligent to study mathematics and sciences perceived to be hard subjects meant for boys.

Natalie Anoma said, instead females should be inspired to take interest in the subjects that would lead them to study engineering and technology related courses in institutions of higher learning.

She observed that, a country can develop when women, who make more than half the population participate in providing solutions to science, technology and engineering challenges in the country.

Also, Dean of the GIMPA School of Technology, Dr. Joseph Adjei said the WITE project seeks to empower females to be critical thinkers and creators of technologies, inspiring them to develop their full potential.

He noted that, introducing girls at an early age to computer science, he noted, would help to bridge the gender gap in the ICT field in the country.

Dr. Jospeh Adjei indicated that, it could be used to improve women’s economic outlook while addressing the gender gap in IT.

Students from SHS schools like Kinbu, Kaneshie Technical SHS, St. Margret Mary, Accra Girls present at the event were motivated by women in IT and engineering like Delphina Agyare of Soronko Academy, Jessica Poku of CSquared Ghana and many others.