According to her, the low number of women taking up STEM courses at the tertiary level is not encouraging.
The remarks were made at the launch of the Seats For Ladies In Stem (S4LIS) Initiative, by the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications on December 14, 2022 in Accra.
While delivering her welcome address at the launch ceremony, Mrs. Obo-Nai called for a deliberate plan to absorb women with STEM backgrounds into the workforce, and highlighted the immense benefits the business community and the country as a whole, stand to enjoy, with an increased number of women participating in the STEM ecosystem in Ghana.
“Together we can create a more diverse digital workforce and promote growth and innovation across our country, to develop more holistic solutions that benefit all in our society. This will directly impact the lives of many young ladies and create futures for their young children as well.”
“Our businesses will benefit from the innovation, the creativity and the invaluable contribution the women bring to the table and the nation will become better for it. I therefore invite corporate Ghana to support the S4LIS Initiative, let’s increase women’s participation in STEM, let’s welcome them into our businesses, let’s create seats for them, let’s support them throughout the journey, but more importantly let’s get them around the big table in the boardroom for them to influence decisions,” she added.
Mrs. Obo-Nai also added that the objective of the S4LIS Scheme is to fast-track Ghana’s sustainable development through STEM, by increasing the percentage of ladies taking up STEM related jobs from 30% in 2021 to 40% by 2031.
About the S4LIS Initiative
The S4LIS Scheme believes that increasing the number of women in STEM is more than just the right thing to do. Educating, training and hiring more women and other underrepresented groups in STEM can also lead to better scientific and financial outcomes.
This is because increasing diversity in the workforce means gaining a variety of perspectives and ideas, which can give organizations a competitive edge. It can also improve scientific and financial outcomes, as well as improve the culture of STEM workplaces.
Ultimately, we need women in STEM because our organizations, innovations and finances are all much better with them involved.
S4LIS seeks to rationalized the notion that giving women equal opportunities to pursue and thrive in STEM careers, helps narrow the gender pay gap, enhances women’s economic security, ensures a diverse and talented STEM workforce and prevents biases in these fields and the products and services they produce.
Source: Chamber News Desk
