The University Information Technology Services (UITS) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has organised a two-day boot camp aimed at equipping Junior High School (JHS) leavers with essential Information Technology (IT) skills.

The training, held at the UITS Laboratory, featured practical sessions on Microsoft Office tools, Microsoft 365, Google Cloud services, and basic programming. The initiative forms part of UITS’s broader mission to promote digital literacy and technical competence among young students, particularly those transitioning to higher levels of education.

Abubakari Yahaya, Senior Systems Analyst at UITS, expressed appreciation to the students for their participation and highlighted the uniqueness of this year’s edition.

“UITS is responsible for providing IT services across the KNUST community. This year, we decided to do something different by extending our services to young students beyond the university,” he said.

He added that the boot camp was designed not only to build technical capacity but also to instill essential soft skills for personal growth.

“Understanding social and life skills such as time management and financial responsibility is equally important for young people,” he advised.

Emmanuel Mfum-Mensah, Systems Analyst at UITS, expressed optimism about the programme’s impact.

“We hope that by the end of this training, you will all be equipped with the necessary skills to navigate the digital space with confidence,” he said.

Sedem Foster Dedume, another Systems Analyst at UITS, led hands-on sessions on Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams. Participants were guided through the creation of Microsoft accounts, software installation, and an introduction to cloud services.

In addition to IT training, the boot camp featured discussions on topics such as cybersecurity risks, responsible social media use, financial discipline in developing economies, and the role of youth in a technology-driven world.