Dansyn Innovation Social Organization (Dansyn ISO) in partnership with Ghana Tech Lab has organized a Startup Summit in Bolgatanga for thirty young people that seek to provide improvement in the digital economy and propel youth employment in the region.
The event held at GANASS Hotel in Bolgatanga follows a six-week intensive Web Development training – GTL Base Program – for 30 young people.
The initiative is under the Pathways to Sustainable Employment initiative with support from the MasterCard Foundation Young Africa Works, the World Bank, and the Ministry of Communications Ghana.
The purpose of the whole programme is aimed at curbing the high rate of unemployment among young graduates by providing a platform where these graduates can be equipped with employable skills—providing opportunity for their personal and professional development.
In his welcome address, the Executive Director of Dansyn Innovation Social Organization, Daniel Y. Nang noted that digital skills in the area of Web Development has the potential of reducing unemployment rate in the region since the youth equipped with such skills can use it to look for jobs or set up their own businesses to provide jobs for themselves and for others.
The emergence of technology has rapidly evolved over the years, creating solutions to complex problems of everyday people.
From creating complex software and websites to building simple interfaces or solutions for the average market woman.
The internet boom in the early 2000s witnessed an ever-increasing proliferation of solutions for organizations and individuals of all classes, from the famous Amazon breakthrough, Facebook, Yahoo etc making these companies big overtime.
The industry demand for web developers is projected to grow at a 13% and an industry value of $40bn over the next 10 years, meaning there is an increasing demand for web developers and web solutions and services over this period.
This can be attributed to the increased mobile penetration rates both locally and globally and more products and services mostly available online.
At the end of the six weeks Web Development training at Dansyn Hub, participants formed teams of two, making 15 teams out of the 30 trainees.
The teams took turns to pitch their business ideas before a panel of judges. The teams with the best innovative ideas were selected for ten weeks incubation at Dansyn Hub.
The necessary support such as finance, mentorship, coaching, design thinking, and other growth support initiatives needed to help these young people scale up their ideas and be able to fully start their businesses will be provided during the incubation period.
In a speech read by the Upper East Regional Minister’s delegation on her behalf, Madam Tangoba Abayege acknowledged the need for the youth to be innovative with the use of technology to create opportunities for themselves.
She observed that the Akufo-Addo led administration through the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme has employed about 2000 youth and provided financial support to about 9,350 entrepreneurs across the country.
She reiterated government call on the private sector to partner with them to support the hardworking youth interested in Technology to realize their potentials.
Story: Emmanuel Akayeti
