Stanbic Bank empowers girls in ICT

Stanbic Bank Ghana Limited has organized a boot camp solely for females, in ICT, in Accra. The 10-day incubator programme, themed ‘STEM for Girls Android Programming Bootcamp’ provided participants with one-on-one, and group support in current IT trends.

Practical sessions saw participants tutored on how to pitch their startup ideas to prospective investors and prepare software environments for mobile applications, among others.

The program had facilitators drawn from industry. Femi Adewumi, former Director of Operations and Innovations, IBM Ghana, shared his 27 years’ experience in the IT industry with participants. He also spoke about immediate future of IT, and encouraged them to continue on the path they had chosen. Mawuli Babanayo from Wineloya Limited, took participants through an intensive session Google Digital Marketing after which they were all awarded certificates of completion from Google.

Speaking at the session, Ben Mensah, Head Wealth West Africa, Stanbic Bank said, “Driving digitization and offering universal financial services to our clients is a passion the bank holds dear. I believe that this incubator program is one of the ways that we demonstrate that we support digitization, and diversification of science and technology among our women folk.”

While congratulating participants for attending the boot camp he added, “I’m hoping that your apps will do very well, and that I can download some of them soon. Note that, the Bootcamp is not about whose app wins and whose loses, it’s about learning and adding value.”

EnetorApp, an energy-monitoring application that guides its users on how to calculate their home energy usage, and how to conserve energy, emerged as the ultimate winner. In second place was The StudentAid app, an android mobile scheduling application, designed to aid students manage their schedule, set reminders and minimize their level of distraction.

StudyAid App, an application for students from the upper primary to undergraduate tertiary level came in third place. The app serves as a repository of Ghanaian school syllabuses, and helps its users with their assignments.

At the end of 10-day program, Doreen Illiasu, Head of Legal had some words of encouragement for the girls, “This Bootcamp combines two very important passions of Stanbic Bank Ghana. The bank is very interested in developing women, and I am very impressed with your ideas and the things you are coming out with. Beyond this forum, you must strive for excellence, and be the best version of yourself, every day; be excellent in everything you. As women, you must keep the network, relationships and connections gained here. Support others whenever you can, and remember that to be successful is when you have made other people around you successful.”

Participants in the STEM4G, were awarded certificates of participation with the winners taking home cash prizes. The ‘STEM for Girls Android Programming Bootcamp’ is an annual capacity building program, a brainchild of Stanbic Bank Ghana Limited.