Hot!
Six hundred and fifty students from various tertiaries participate in DevFest
About 650 students from the various tertiary universities have participated in a Developers Festival(DevFest), to connect locally, learn and build Google tools to generate social and economic impact.
The annual event was organised by Accra chapter of the Google Developers Group (GDG), and partnered with the Accra Technical University (ATU) Library.
It brought together students from the ATU, University of Ghana, University of Cape Coast, University of Education, Winneba, Methodist University Colledge, Jayee University Colledge, and Koforidua Technical University among others.
The University Librarian for ATU, Dr Florence Plockey, in an interviewed with the Spectatoronline last week Saturday in Accra, said, the events were to allow the students to equip themselves with ICT skills through the supervision of industry giants.
She noted that participants were students pursuing various programmes in the university, and that the events were not only necessarily targeting students studying ICT programmes at the tertiary levels.
Dr Plockey explained that the events was to allow participants to connect locally, learn, and build Google tools to generate social and economic impact, as most students lack the opportunity to use ICT to develop their careers and generate income.
She said this was the fourth in a series of tech events the library had hosted, adding that “we are excited because we believe we can use this platform to shop for new technologies.
She indicated for instance that, the library was using a platform that allowed for student-supervisor interaction in a manner that students’ project works were uploaded, without the library having to do the uploads individually for the over 5,000 final-year students they had.
Dr Plockey said, she believes students could use this opportunity to shop for new technologies that would help them in their various programmes, stressing that,
“We would like to see innovative technologies emerge, following this event, that are tailored towards the library’s activities”
She, however, called on the government to revamp the various community libraries with ICT tools to encourage to students learn and read wide, since most students could not afford some books but had to depend on these libraries for their research work.
Pro Vice-Chancellor of ATU, Professor Amevi Acakpovi, said, partnering to host the event was to allow students to tap into the benefits of developing Google tools and making money out of them.
“ATU has recognized the potential benefit that this programme holds for the youth in building capacity, especially for “techpreneurship”.
As an academic institution and the premier technical university, whose mandate is to develop middle to top-level manpower in the engineering, science, and technology-based disciplines, we are very much interested in such events, which we believe can be useful to our students and open networking opportunities for them” he said.
Professor Acakpovi called for a stronger alliance with GDG to hone the practical skills of the University’s computer science and engineering students to position them well for the job market.
BY BERNARD BENGHAN
Hot!
ASWIM lauds Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
The Association of Women in the Media, (ASWIM) has congratulated Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on her historic achievement as Ghana’s first female Vice President.
The association said her trailblazing journey with sterling accomplishments from academia to politics, is undoubtedly, a vivid inspiration to countless women and girls across Ghana and Africa.
This was contained in a statement signed by its president, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, and copied to The Spectator on Tuesday in Accra.
“ASWIM celebrates your remarkable career, marked by numerous firsts, including the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, (UCC), and the first female to hold a professional chair in Ghana, (UCC),” the statement said.
It said the accomplishments of Prof Opoku- Agyemang were clear testament to the brilliance, resilience and resourceful nature of the complete beautiful African woman.
“As she takes on this new role, ASWIM proudly lauds her commitment to education, women’s empowerment, distinguished public service and patriotism and is very confident that her pursuit of excellence, love for humanity, humility, decency, modesty and commitment to the welfare of the vulnerable will characterise Ghana’s political leadership and public service,” the statement added.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Entertainment
Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey
Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed concern over the manner the facility was destroyed.
In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.
“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the people destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.
When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.
He said he had previously contacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.
The demolition of the 20,000-seater Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.
According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, the action was taken after multiple notices were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.
Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.
Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.
He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.
Despite this, the demolition proceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.
Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his business but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.
