Celebrating International Women’s Day in Volta Region: DigitALL for Gender Equality

As Node Eight, we recognize the significance of International Women’s Day, which is globally celebrated annually on March 8th by the United Nations. This day serves as an opportunity to appreciate the economic, political, and social achievements of women worldwide and to promote gender participation in STEM. We are also reminded that there is still much work to be done in order to achieve equity and equality for women.

This year, we were proud to participate in the International Women’s Day celebration in the Volta Region. The event brought together students from various levels of education, public and private sector organizations, entrepreneurs, and innovators, including Node Eight. The event was organized by the Department of Gender, Children, and Social Protection under the theme “DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality” at OLA SHS Auditorium.

During the opening ceremony, the Volta Regional Director of Gender, Thywill Eyra Kpe, emphasized the importance of gender equality for sustainable development. She stressed the need to recognize the principles of gender equality to ensure equal opportunities for all, particularly in patriarchal societies where entrenched norms were widespread. Mrs. Kpe also highlighted the importance of skills development for girls in ICT to promote gender equality and the critical role of traditional authorities in protecting the rights and welfare of women.

The Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa, acknowledged the significant contributions of women in Ghana, occupying key positions in various sectors. However, he expressed concern about the gender gap that persists and deepens in certain areas, such as the low representation of women in decision-making at the local level, and other challenges such as low access to capital and productive resources, sexual and gender-based violence, adolescent pregnancy, the burden of unpaid care work, and unequal opportunities for women in STEM fields.

At the event, we showcased our vision board, which highlighted various technology careers that young girls could pursue and how to achieve them. Several notable Ghanaian women in technology were featured on our vision board to inspire students and demonstrate that others are leading the way in the technology industry. We were delighted to provide students with an opportunity to gain experience more about our commitment to promoting gender equality in tech and connect with other women in the industry. Our dedication to promoting diversity and inclusivity in tech was evident throughout the event.

At Node Eight, we believe that International Women’s Day serves as a reminder that we still have a long way to go in achieving gender equality. We remain committed to our mission of bridging the gender gap in tech and creating a more equitable world. Over the years in creating opportunities for young women to have careers in tech, we organized training in digital skills such as Wed Development, Mobile App Development, Artificial Intelligence, UI/UX Design, Digital Marketing, and Entrepreneurship Support programs for female-led businesses, among other initiatives. It is up to all of us to act and make a difference in promoting gender equality.