Over 200 employees of MTN Ghana spent a day at the Opportunity Industrial Training Institute (OITI) as part of the annual 21 Days of Y'ello volunteer event. The staff volunteered their time and skills to assist students of the school in sewing over 200 school uniforms for pupils in deprived basic schools.
According to Ebenezer Terkpeh, Education Portfolio Advisor, the employee volunteers not only helped with the sewing but also interacted with the students to motivate them and introduce them to emerging technologies such as (Artificial Intelligence) AI and (Internet of Things) IoT. "The employee volunteers went to the classrooms to motivate the students and to let them know about emerging technologies, the AI, the IoT, the things that are happening and what they can use their skills for," he said. The goal is to embed technology value in the students and encourage them to learn digital skills beyond their current curriculum, he noted.
Mr Terkpeh said that the project involved sewing 500 school uniforms, with 300 being done at the OITI and 200 at the Kumasi branch. The uniforms would be distributed to selected deprived schools, particularly in Central Region. “The volunteers are not only sewing but also helping with remediating, ironing, and fixing bathrooms. The focus is on quality, with the uniforms undergoing a rigorous finishing process to ensure they meet high standards, he emphasized.
During a tour of the school on 4th June 2025, the CEO of MTN Ghana, Mr. Steven Blewett emphasized that technical skills were essential for Ghana's economic growth and development, noting that "if we want to continue to grow our economy, if we want to have a 24-hour economy, we need people with these skills." The Proprietor of the School, Mr. Mawuli Sogbe, also noted that technical education was necessary in equipping students with skills that can make them employable or self-employed. He also highlighted the need for collaboration between industries and technical institutions to ensure that students are well-prepared for the workforce.