Women Champions in the Energy Sector

Her leadership and achievements have been recognized by Power Africa, which partnered with her to host a training and certification program for electrical wiring professionals in 2021. The program, part of the USAID Wiring Artisans Scholarship Program, trained 44 individuals, including 10 women, in electrical wiring and installation. Mariama's passion for empowering women in technical fields stems from her own experiences growing up in Northern Ghana in the 1970s. Despite facing societal norms that restricted girls' access to education, Mariama persevered and eventually earned a bachelor's degree in Technology Education, a master's degree in Special Education, and a Postgraduate Diploma in managing distance education from the Indira Gandhi National Open University. For two decades, she has dedicated her efforts to academic and professional training for youth, serving as a technical skills tutor and Head of Human Resource Management and Development. Mariama's dedication to empowering women extends beyond her professional work. She is the founder and patron of the Female Engineers Club at the Dabokpa Technical Institute, which aims to provide exposure, confidence, and inspiration to pursue engineering degrees and become professionals. Since 2017, she has facilitated the setting up of 12 units within the institute to train women in technical and vocational skills, benefiting 273 young women to date. Mariama's vision is to create an inclusive learning environment where learners can use their hearts, heads, and hands in their trade areas, driving industrialization and fostering better gender balance. Mariama's approach to mentoring is centered on accelerating change, increasing diversity, and fostering better gender balance. She believes that women have the capacity to excel in male-dominated fields, including electrical, construction, and engineering, and that providing them with the necessary skills and training will enable them to achieve equal bragging rights with their male counterparts. Her work has been recognized by Power Africa, which has featured her as a female champion in the energy sector, highlighting her leadership and achievements in empowering women in technical fields.