MTN Ghana, in collaboration with Mobile Web Ghana, has kicked off a two-day GirlCode Hackathon event aimed at empowering 100 girls from across the country.

The maiden edition of the event seeks to equip participants with the skills and knowledge to solve pressing issues in their communities using technology, with a focus on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The hackathon is designed to bridge the gap in technological skills and implementation by encouraging young girls to think critically about the problems around them and develop innovative solutions.

Interacting with the media, Advisor Portfolio (Education) at MTN Ghana, Ebenezer Terkpeh highlighted the company’s commitment to supporting young people in digital skills.

He talked about the MTN Skills Academy, a platform aimed at providing free digital training and career development opportunities for young people.

According to him, the platform is designed to equip participants with digital skills ranging from basic to advanced levels, offering them a pathway to employment in the technology industry.

With the maiden edition of the GirlCode Hackathon, Mr Terkpeh noted that MTN is working to create a cohort of skilled individuals who, after completing their courses, will be linked with industry players and employment platforms.

“The idea is not just to get them trained and leave them idle. If we are unable to absorb them into MTN, we will ensure they have other opportunities,” he said.

He revealed that the MTN Skills Academy, in partnership with the global online learning platform Coursera, offers a wide range of competitive and highly rated courses.

He therefore encouraged young people in the country to take advantage of this initiative, which promises to open doors to new career opportunities in the fast-growing digital economy.

“So we would like young people to take advantage of the MTN Skills Academy platform. It is free. You just go to the website and you register and you start taking up the courses.

“The digital courses are from basic to advanced level. And we have partnered with an international organisation called Coursera, so the courses that are there are very competitive and highly rated,” he noted.

On her part, the Director of Mobile Web Ghana, Florence Toffa, encouraged young girls to explore the exciting possibilities that technology noting its potential to transform careers quickly.

She emphasised how rapidly evolving technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), are revolutionising how tasks are accomplished.

“Technology is very exciting. You will be amazed at what it can do in your life and with the advent of AI, a lot of things have been made easier.

“… That is how rapidly things are changing so if you don’t get involved in this, you will be left behind and be watching others. There are opportunities out there, don’t sit aloof and watch on. Get on board and participate in this,” she urged.

Esther Efua Appiah, a student of Accra Institute of Technology and a participant in the Hackathon was optimistic that the event would set her on the path to achieving her career goals.

“I am glad to see many young ladies like myself in the same event. I am hoping to explore, share knowledge, and build skills that I don’t have currently but because of the teamwork and collaboration, I’d learn a lot, she said.

The MTN GirlCode Hackathon aims to foster a deep understanding of how technology can be applied to address challenges in schools, communities, and institutions.

By the end of the two-day event, the participants will have explored ways to use technology to tackle local problems, gaining valuable experience that can serve as a foundation for future innovations.