Data has become key to businesses across all industries as companies recognize its value in strategic decision-making and process automation.

In recent times, data and analytics have seen substantial growth. To contribute to its growth and reduce the rate of unemployment, MTN organized the Data Science and Analytics Training.

Speaking on the sidelines of the training, Senior Vice President for Markets at MTN, Ebenezer Twum Asante reiterated the need to build qualitative and future proof skills for the youth to help create more jobs.

“We often talk about demographic dividends, but demographic dividends that only represent head counts is not enough, we really need to build qualitative skills, future proof skills for the youth,” he said.

According to Mr. Asante, the youth in the country represent sixty percent of the population, hence the need to build and develop their skills.

Stating the importance of the training, he said, “the essence of this course is to provide a platform for young people who are so enabled to also acquire data science skills and the research that we have done all over the world indicates that this is one of the high earning skills. It does not only equip them to join corporate but it can also help them build their own business, become digital innovators, or even digital entrepreneurs as well”.

He added that more opportunities would be given to young people in the coming year to undergo the data science training where they would be coached, mentored and given the needed support.

Some participants at the training said data provides an opportunity for young people to try new skills to help solve challenges in the society.

A beneficiary, Esther Yipeh said, “data science is a fast growing industry, every industry analyses data and it helps promote their business and it also helps in decision making, I believe this training will give me a broader scope in anything I want to do”.

The 10 finalists were each given a laptop and data for the 6 week period.