At career orientation seminar: Primetec Academy enlightens youth, young women on AI, tech opportunities.

This was the focus of a two-day career orientation seminar which was organised by leading tech higher institution, Primetec Academy. 

It was organised in partnership with a nonprofit organisation that promotes young women’s education and leadership, Leap Girl Africa. The seminar held on the campus of Primetec Academy at Nouvelle Route Damas, August 2 and 3, 2024. 

The seminar aimed at particularly giving women and girls the opportunity to be at the same level of information as men and boys, enable them to take interest in tech and strengthen their capacities in technology with a view to their professional, economic and social development.

In his opening statement, the Director of Academics at Primetec Academy, Dr Hilaire Donhagho Kana, said the seminar is part of the institution’s efforts to bridge the perceptible knowledge gap between the youth, young women and ICT, through a holistic orientation of ICT careers and to boost motivation for careers in Artificial Intelligence. 

Dr Donhagho explained that with digital technologies becoming increasingly indispensable, inescapable and revolutionising every aspect of life, Primetec Academy, which offers international standard quality training, also thought it wise to orientate and teach young people to adapt and build a digital future so as to be able to respond authoritatively to the demands of the digital world. 

He said the institution’s high-quality training has enabled its students to successively emerge overall best nationwide in Professional Qualification Diploma organised by the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training. 

The Primetec Academy official sounded upbeat that the seminar will give participants a better understanding of the challenges of AI and digital technologies, and inspire them to consider a career in the IT field. 

Enter Primetec Academy founder 

The Founder of Primetec Academy, Takam Austin, told participants that though he lacked the necessary orientation after high school, choosing tech as career path alongside a friend was his best decision in life.  

"We saw that tech was the future. Back then, it was already kind of evident, so we decided to orient ourselves to it, not having any idea or mentor in that field…that decision has brought us here to talk to you today," Takam said. 

While underscoring the importance of career orientation to youth, Takam presented the different career paths that can be pursued in both tech and AI.

Takam, in a presentation on why tech and AI matter, educated participants on the global impact of technology, its advancement, growth and job creation as well as its relevance in Cameroon. 

Demystifying certain aspects about tech 

In an interview with reporters after the opening, Takam said the expected outcome of the seminar is to abreast youth with knowledge and demystify certain aspects about technology. 

With a unique skill in tech, Takam said an individual can create his/her own business and provide services to people, as well as get employed by big international tech companies. 

Takam said Primetec Academy intends to follow-up participants so as to create a tech community where they can share updates about technology, especially in Cameroon and different projects. 

Participants gain insight on AI

On his part, Harry Kemdem, a specialist in Artificial Intelligence, drilled the participants on ethical issues related to use of AI, its future and the opportunities it offers. 

He emphasised on the need for youth to quickly get abreast with the technology so that experts from abroad will not impose their policies on them.  

“We are witnessing a surge in this technology. It is growing so fast…we have experts from abroad being sent to our leaders to tell them this is the way to use the product. So, the message we are taking to our youth is that we don't need to go the way that is imposed on us by the bigger corporations,” the AI expert said.

He insisted that what the country needs at the moment is “necessary intelligence and data” before it is captured by external players.

Participants express gratitude to organisers 

Participants at the training expressed gratitude to Primetec Academy and Leap Girl Africa for the orientation. 

A student, Favour Tima, said the training has widened her scope and knowledge on AI and tech. 

“…from the knowledge gathered, I am looking at more opportunities of implementing AI into my studies; not fully taking advantage or depending on it, but having it as something that can help me in studies,” Tima said. 

On his part, a young web developer, Djeumeni Patchepia Arthur Samuel, said the seminar helped him to gather the basic knowledge on future AI models.

He said the training also gives him a wide range of opportunities to link up with experts who will further connect him to more specialities on how to integrate AI. 

About Primetec Academy 

The higher institution was launched in October 2019 as a vocational training institute. In 2021, it expanded and became a higher education institute. 

Primetec Academy has a dynamic team and professional teachers who do their utmost to offer the best quality of training to students. It has as vision is to enrich and inspire students, promote research and innovation and encourage women in technology.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0: 3190 of August 05, 2024