Kigali, Rwanda – At a high-profile summit in Kigali, Rwanda, Patricia Obo-Nai, CEO of Telecel Ghana, issued a compelling call for deliberate structural solutions to bridge the significant gender gap in Africa’s burgeoning digital economy. Speaking at ‘The Golden Hour’ dinner and dialogue session, a prelude to the Forward Africa Leaders Symposium, Obo-Nai stressed that Africa must provide tangible answers to the next generation of girls facing systemic barriers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
Addressing Structural Barriers
Obo-Nai highlighted that deeply ingrained cultural expectations, a scarcity of visible female role models in tech, and insufficient institutional support systems actively limit girls’ exposure to STEM opportunities from an early age. These factors often shape career paths long before formal choices are made.
She pointed to United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) workforce data, which indicates that only 27 percent of STEM professionals across Africa are women. Obo-Nai argued that this statistic is not a reflection of ability but rather a stark indicator of systemic exclusion.
“When women are excluded, Africa loses talent, creativity, and insight,” she stated. “We lose the diversity of ideas and perspectives that drive innovation, and we limit our collective ability to solve the complex problems facing our continent.”
Telecel Ghana’s Proactive Approach
In response to this challenge, Telecel Ghana has implemented structured digital skills programs designed to actively counteract gender imbalance. The company’s Foundation-led STEM initiatives specifically target upper primary and junior high school students.
These training programs cover critical areas such as coding, robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), and mobile application development. Notably, 70 percent of participants in these initiatives are female, demonstrating a deliberate focus on inclusivity.
Furthermore, Telecel Ghana runs the Female Engineering Student Scholarship Programme. Since 2011, this program has provided tuition assistance, mentorship, and work placements to over 100 women, aiming to cultivate a stronger pipeline of female talent in engineering and related technical fields.
The Need for Broader Institutional Change
Beyond targeted training and scholarship programs, Obo-Nai emphasized the critical need for widespread institutional transformation. She argued that genuine inclusion requires efforts to extend beyond educational initiatives to influence policy-making, hiring practices, and leadership structures.
These systemic changes are essential to actively create and sustain opportunities for women in the tech sector. Obo-Nai underscored the long-term implications, noting that the digital systems currently under development across Africa – spanning fintech, artificial intelligence, and data governance – will ultimately be managed and shaped by the young girls currently in basic and secondary education.
A Call to Action for Leaders
During the dialogue, Obo-Nai urged leaders present to identify and commit to specific actions. She prompted them to reflect on the concrete steps they have taken to support girls not yet in leadership positions, to acknowledge existing mentorship gaps within their organizations, and to make tangible commitments to expand access for young women in technology.
The Golden Hour event, hosted as part of the Forward Africa Leaders Symposium’s pre-dialogue series, provided an intimate setting for senior leaders, policymakers, and industry executives. The platform facilitated candid discussions on Africa’s development priorities, encouraging participants to critically examine the systems influencing the continent’s future trajectory.
Looking Ahead
The emphasis on concrete, structural solutions and the direct call to action for current leaders signal a growing momentum towards addressing the gender disparity in Africa’s digital landscape. The coming months and years will reveal the extent to which these dialogues translate into measurable progress and a more equitable future for women in technology across the continent.
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