Farida Bedwei is a disability-rights advocate and one of the participants at the recently-concluded International Conference on Disabilities held in Lagos. She talks about rights of persons with disabilities with GBENGA ADENIJI
Tell us about yourself.
I am Farida Nana Bedwei. I hold an Institute for the Management of Information Systems diploma and a diploma in E-Technology. I also have a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom and a project management professional certificate from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. I am a member of the Ghana Institute of Management.
I am a seasoned software engineer with over 17 years experience in building mobile and enterprise applications with extensive knowledge in architecting and deploying mobile value-added services and banking applications for the microfinance industry.
Where did you start work?
I started work at Soft Company Limited (now known as the Softtribe), as a software developer and later moved to Rancard Solutions Limited. At Rancard Solutions, I worked from 2001 to 2010. I progressed from the position of solutions analyst to senior software architect.
What were your functions at Rancard Solutions?
At Rancard Solutions, I was responsible for the development and maintenance of the mobility platform which connected the mobile networks to the content providers. I have in-depth knowledge about the technical architecture of mobile network messaging gateways and the associated protocols.
In 2010, I moved to G-Life Microfinance where I designed and implemented new products and services and managed the software solutions as well as vendor relationships.
What do you do now?
Since April 2011 to date, I have been the co-founder/chief technology officer of Logiciel Limited, located in Accra, Ghana. It is a technological solutions company with the primary focus of building mobile and financial software for the West African market. My key achievement has been the successful implementation of gKudi, a web-based (clouded) banking software suite for the micro finance industry, designed to be accessible on mobile phones and personal digital assistants as well as on desktop systems used by over 160 micro finance institutions nationwide.
Have you won any award for your prowess in the Information Technology industry?
Some of the awards I won included Legacy and Legacy Maiden Ideas Award in 2011, Government of Ghana’s National Youth Achievers Award and the Special Award, 2012. Besides, in 2013, I won the Most Influential Women in Business and Government in Africa award, from the CEO Magazine, South Africa.
From 2013 to 2015, I was a member of The Girls in ICT Committee inaugurated under the ministry of communication to encourage females to pursue careers in Information Technology. I am a board member of the National Communication Authority. Ghana. I featured on the British Broadcasting Corporation Africa (Radio) as well as DW Radio and many other local programmes. In February 2015, I was on the Cable News Network African Voices
What is your view about the International Conference on Disabilities which you were a participant?
I am happy that people are beginning to be aware that individuals with disabilities have rights. People involved in fields related to disabilities are beginning to see that it is a problem. The problem of persons with disabilities is not only limited to the individuals with disabilities. It is a national problem that should be addressed as such by everybody.
What are the lessons you learnt from the conference?
I think much has been said and talked about. It is important that we focus on the major issues addressed at the conference in order to tackle whatever the challenges are. The challenges confronting people with disabilities differ when one examines the disability of each of them. In Africa, we talk
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