Accra, Oct. 30, GNA – Mrs Patricia Obo-Nai, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vodafone Ghana, has advised engineering students of the Ashesi University to seek practical experiences whilst in school.
She explained that acquiring practical knowledge was key to the engineering course, and would enable students to fully understand what they learnt in class.
She gave the advice at a virtual programme organised by the Engineering Department of the University on the theme: “Time with Engineers.”
Mrs Obo-Nai, who is a celebrated engineer, encouraged the student engineers to take up internships for the practical exposure.
“Internships give young engineers the opportunities to meet people who have years of great engineering experiences. With internships, you are able to fully understand the theoretical aspects you have studied in the classroom.
“During internships, you learn how to work with people, fit in the working environment, build your professional competency and it offers you the room to make mistakes and correct them. These experiences are valuable in the field of engineering”, she said.
She also advised them to acquire diverse knowledge, be open-minded and make themselves relevant as engineers.
“Digital transitions happen every day, and due to these changes, we have had to move from analogue to digital. From 2G to 3G, then 3G to 4G, and now 4G to 5G. It is, therefore, important to learn new things. You must acquire advanced technology knowledge because consumer needs keep changing.”
Explaining the importance of studying engineering, Mrs. Obo-Nai said: “As an engineer, because you understand technology which is embedded in everything that you do, it makes you analytical. You also become a strong person since you come across and resolve complex problems on the job. It enables you to build resilience as well. You are in the best place”.
“To fully enjoy your courses, you must love what you are studying. If you hate it, it won’t be easy for you. Don’t try to impress anybody. Understand who you are, read about the various programmes and know the ones you are comfortable and flow with before you decide”, she advised.
She encouraged the female students to position themselves well to be able to fit in the engineering field.
“Though this field is male dominated and you will not be able to change the social bias, you must work hard to position yourself to be a valuable asset to your team and to the engineering career”, she added.
GNA