Digital transformation necessitates advanced skill sets for maximizing benefits - assertion by NITA Director-General
Fusing Academia and Industry for a Future-Proofed Skills Market
In a bid to surge ahead in a digitalized economy, the nation requires a concentrated effort in refining cutting-edge skill sets, asserts Richard Okyere-Fosu, Director-General of the National Information Technology Agency (NITA).
Although digitalization offers a kaleidoscope of opportunities, its potential can only be realized when individuals and businesses alike possess the essential expertise.
"In shaping our nation's workforce, it's crucial that we focus on cultivating financial literacy, basic IT proficiency, and a plethora of specialized skills tailored to emerging technologies," Okyere-Fosu elucidates during the launch of the 2023 Tech Job Fair in Accra.
He posits that such a shift in mindset entails breaking away from traditional methods and embracing innovative approaches to harness the benefits that digitalization presents.
Government's emphasis on leveraging technology for pivotal operations, from business registration and tax administration to healthcare and finance, signifies a call to action for enterprises to adapt and stay competitive.
"Digitalization lands before us a new world brimming with possibilities and opportunities for both businesses and citizens," Okyere-Fosu emphasizes.
However, realizing these opportunities necessitates the acquisition of cutting-edge skills.
Forging Academia-Industry Alliances: A Both-Way Street
As the Tech Job Fair returns for its latest installment under the theme 'Driving technology to foster an inclusive and sustainable job market', Okyere-Fosu highlights the integral role academia and industry play in readying the job-seeking populace.
"Preparing our talent pool to seize digital age opportunities calls for a concerted responsibility from both academia and industry," he explains, advocating for partnerships that facilitate scholarship opportunities, internships, and sponsorships.
Moreover, he encourages industry leaders to allocate budgets for research initiatives that align with their interests, thus fostering innovation and fuelling advancements.
The Tech Job Fair: A stepping stone to future success
Set to commence on February 22, 2023, the annual Tech Job Fair brings together employers and job-seekers for a dynamic showcase of job vacancies via an innovative, accelerated recruitment process.
Preceding the main event, several stakeholder engagements are set to take place, providing a platform for all parties involved to exchange ideas, discuss expectations, and cultivate a conducive environment to unlock opportunities associated with the digital revolution.
"This initiative not only connects our bright young minds with potential employers but also offers valuable insights into the needs of various stakeholders involved in creating opportunities related to jobs and the future of work," says David Gowu, Executive Director at the Institute of ICT Professionals Ghana, the masterminds behind the Tech Job Fair.
All part of the DigiCAP.gh initiative, this project is generously funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) via Sequa, in collaboration with AFOS Foundation, a foundation dedicated to forging strategic partnerships that fosters sustainable development through business-oriented programs.
- To ensure a sustainable and inclusive skills market in the digital age, the development of financial literacy, IT proficiency, and specialized skills is essential for both individuals and businesses, as emphasized by Richard Okyere-Fosu during the launch of the 2023 Tech Job Fair.
- In order to prepare the job-seeking populace for the digital age and equip them with the necessary skills, a concerted responsibility from both academia and industry is required, as Okyere-Fosu advocates for partnerships that facilitate scholarship opportunities, internships, and sponsorships.
- The 2023 Tech Job Fair, themed 'Driving technology to foster an inclusive and sustainable job market,' offers a platform for employers and job-seekers to interact, with the aim of connecting young minds with potential employers and unlocking opportunities associated with the digital revolution.
- Forging academia-industry alliances can pave the way for groundbreaking research initiatives that align with industry interests, fostering innovation and driving advancements, as suggested by Richard Okyere-Fosu.
- The Tech Job Fair is a significant step towards future career development, providing education-and-self-development opportunities and offering insights into the needs of various stakeholders involved in the future of work, as highlighted by David Gowu, Executive Director at the Institute of ICT Professionals Ghana.
