The Girls to Women Foundation, a non governmental organization in the Northern Region with funding support from EMpower has successfully completed one year training of about twenty (20) young women in mobile phone repairs under it’s initiative christened as Women in Mobile Technology and Entrepreneurship Project (WOMTEP).
The project aims to promote economic empowerment and self reliance, enhance entrepreneurial skills and financial literacy among young women and provide hands on technical and vocational training in mobile phone repairs and maintenance.
Speaking to The Custodian Online during the graduation ceremony last Wednesday, (June 3, 2026) in Tamale, Executive Director of the Foundation, Hajia Mariam Iddrisu noted that the project was designed to equip these young women with practical skills in mobile phone technology, entrepreneurship, and self-reliance.
At the beginning of this project, the Executive Director said many people doubted whether young women could succeed in mobile phone technology, a field traditionally dominated by men.
She added some parents and community members were hesitant to allow girls to participate in the program because they believed the work was too technical and unsuitable for women.
However, she indicated through continuous community engagement, encouragement, and the determination of these young women, perceptions gradually changed.
”Today, these same beneficiaries are graduating with valuable technical and entrepreneurial skills, proving that when women are given opportunities, they can excel in every field” she emphasized.
According to Hajia Mariam, economic empowerment is not simply about income, arguing that it is about dignity, confidence, independence, voice, and the ability to shape one’s future.
She intimated that when women are economically empowered, families become stronger, communities prosper, and nations develop.
She reiterated the project was designed not only to equip young women with mobile phone repair and entrepreneurship skills, but also to build their confidence, leadership, communication abilities, and financial independence.
”On behalf of Girls to Women Foundation and beneficiaries, I want to appreciate EMpower, our donor and partner, for believing in the vision of empowering young women and investing in their future.”
Meanwhile, each trainee received a certificate and the requisite tools box to start up their own businesses.
The project implementation clearly demonstrate the commitment of the organization in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 5, 8 and 10 which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, promote Decent work and economic growth and reduce inequality within and among countries respectively by 2030.
For his part, President of Northern Region Mobile Phones Repairers Association, Alhaji Alhassan Shamuna challenged the trainees to work assiduously to compete their male counterparts in the sector.
He observed though men have dominated the industry, this is a great opportunity for these women to change the narrative that this is a preserve for men.
He further commended the Girls to Women Foundation for the initiative and called continuous monitoring and progress of the beneficiaries as they settle in the job market.
