Norgence, an information technology firm that provides digital solutions to individuals and empowering businesses to succeed in the global digital world has, through its training initiative, trained and graduated 45 Junior High School graduates in ICT Proficiency & Web Development.

In 2018, Norgence launched an initiative to Bridge the Digital Divide in the Upper East Region and this led to the establishment of the Norgence ICT Academy. The Academy has since its establishment, offered tailored training solutions to over two thousand people in groups, schools and individuals.

One of such tailored solutions is the JHS graduates package which is a buffet of courses selected to give the graduates the needed foundation to build an ICT proof career. 

Speaking to the media at the graduation ceremony at the school premises in Bolgatanga, CEO of Norgence, Albert Naa said, most basic schools in the region do not have adequate ICT logistics for effective studies of ICT hence the decision taken by Norgence Academy to introduce these courses to improve the situation. This programme has been running for the past three 3 years. 

“We know some of them at their various schools, but do not have the laboratories. Some who have the laboratories don’t also have fully functional computers in there, and then those who may have the tools may also not having the competent computer teachers to help them.” 

“So they will be out there JHS graduates not having the full complement of what they were supposed to learn from school, one of the parts where we think we could come in is  ICT. So we introduced this programme to help bridge that gap where what they were supposed to learn in school and they couldn’t learn we would provide the service to fit in that gap.”

The 45 students graduating today were taken through  Introduction to computers, Typing with Mavis Beacon, Ms. Office Word,  Introduction to coding with HTML among others.

Some of the students who spoke to the media after their graduation ceremony at the premises of the Norgence Academy said, the four weeks training has generally shaped their ICT skills and they are optimistic that what they have studied will go a long way to help them in their education career.

The students who were seen very excited after receiving their certificate’s noted that they will continue to study ICT courses with the Academy whenever the opportunity availed itself considering the level of knowledge they have acquired over the four weeks period. 

Meanwhile, another 45 set of JHS students will be graduating in the next two weeks.

Other courses on offer at the Academy are; 

1. Norgence Professional Computer Driving License for non technical computer users. 
2. Norgence Software Development
3. Norgence Multimedia
4. Norgence Hardware & Networking
5. Norgence Digital Marketing and 
6. Norgence Cyber Security

Source:A1Radioonline.Com|101.1MHZ|David Azure |Bolgatanga|

The World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that more than 6,000 men and women in Ghana die annually through the smoking of tobacco. 

According to the organisation, the alarming rate at which people die through the smoking of tobacco means the drug is a dire public health threat.

This was contained in a speech read on behalf of the  World Health Organization’s (WHO) Representative,  Dr. Francis Kasolo  at a durbar organised by the Paramount Chief of Sakote to mark this year’s Tenglebigre festival, the adverse effects of tobacco on both human health  and the environment was  the main focus of this year’s World Tobacco Day celebration.

“In Ghana, about 780,000 men and 24,9000 women smoke cigarettes each day, killing more than 6,7000 Ghanaians every year and making it a dire public health threat (Tobacco Atlas Ghana).  The threat posed by tobacco to our environment was the focus of this year’s celebration. This year, the World Health Organization (WHO) drew the attention to the effects of that tobacco use has on both human health and the environment, seeks actions and effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption and to hold tobacco industry responsible for the harm they cause to the environment and human health,” the world’s health governing body stated.

WHO further said the cultural significance of tobacco in the northern part of the country,  has opened the floodgate for people to use the drug. The  organisation therefore proposed the adoption of ‘culturally acceptable alternatives to the utilisation of the drug as a cultural staple in the Northern part of the country.’

WHO concluded by emphasising its commitment to supporting all relevant stakeholders to speed up the implementation of measures aimed at reducing the smoking of tobacco in the country.

Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1 MHz|Elijah Beyeni Yenibey|Nabdam

The Paramount Chief of the Kayoro Traditional Area, Pe Oscar Batabi II has appreciated the government for introducing PFJ. According to him, the PFJ program has extensively helped farmers to increase yields. The Paramount Chief  congratulated and encouraged the awardees  to continue to produce more to sustain food security in the district. 

“I must say that we are very grateful to the government for bringing the Planting for food and jobs to boost production and to bring farmers on board.The fertiliser has helped farmers increase production of food for our consumption. I think it’s high time.we appreciate it.” 

While appreciating the efforts of the government to increase crop production through the PFJ program, the Paramount Chief was quick to add that the Government should ensure that subsidised fertiliser must be available on time when farmers need them for their fields.  

“I want to appeal to the government to always make sure that when the fertiliser is going to be supplied or subsidised to the people, it should be supplied at the right time and made at the right time for them to use rather than coming late when the fields are no longer in need of fertiliser.” 

He also used the opportunity to appreciate the Kassena Nankana West District for hosting the 38th Farmers Day celebration in his locality. Adding that the occasion will motivate farmers in the community to take farming more seriously. 

“Let me also say that organising the program here will help to motivate my farmers to take farming more seriously. “

Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Gerard Awombadek Asagi|Ghana