Co-founder and President of the Internet of Things (IoT) Network Hub, Joshua Opoku Agyeman, has urged students of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) to take advantage of the growing opportunities in the ICT space.
He explained that the advent of the fourth industrial revolution has necessitated the need for students to position themselves for tomorrow’s future by exploring emerging technologies and innovations.
Mr Agyeman made the call at a Technology Conference organised by the Information Technology Students’ Association (ITSA) of UPSA in partnership with IoT Network Hub on Thursday.
The event, dubbed ITSA-IoT Conference was held under the theme, “Readiness for Employment and the I.T. Job Market,” and took place at the LBC Auditorium, UPSA.
Addressing the participants, Mr Opoku Agyeman who is also the president of the Ghana Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Network, averred that for students to exploit the budding opportunities in the ICT sector, they must develop essential soft skills in order to boost their employability.
These soft skills, he said, include analytical skills, critical and creative thinking, and problem-solving skills, stressing that they were relevant in addition to one’s technology know-how.
“STEM-related programmes are gaining lots of attention today, and Ghana is relying on its potential to create meaningful opportunities for the future,” Mr Agyeman told the students.
“Professionals such as data scientists, data miners, artificial intelligence engineers, machine learners among others have become some of the most sought-after experts in the 21st century.
“Therefore, in choosing a career in the technology space, you must first research into areas that excite you the most. By doing so, you will discover your interest and build your capacity in that regard.”
On his part, the Head of the Department of Information Technology, Dr Godfred Yaw Akrofi, observed that the I.T. industry has been inundated with professionals from various backgrounds, rendering the sector highly competitive.
As a result, he said it was incumbent on I.T. students to distinguish themselves by building their capacities and keeping abreast with new technologies and innovations.
Dr Akrofi stressed that the conference will thus equip and expose students to new technologies and innovative working tools that will position them well in the job market.
The President of ITSA, Antoinette Aikins, described the conference as an eye-opener. “We’ve been enlightened on a number of opportunities in the I.T. industry and how we can take advantage of these opportunities when we eventually graduate from school,” she said.
She, therefore, called on the Department to organise more such seminars for the student community.
The Association also used the occasion to outdoor its executives.
