A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC), says it has trained no fewer than 60,000 girls and young women across Nigeria in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
The W.TEC Programme Assistant, Mrs Kabirat Oduntan, said this during a programme themed: ‘She Creates Camp’ held in Akure on Friday.
According to Odutan, the programme exposed participants from West Africa and Southern Africa to career opportunities in engineering, technology and innovation.
She explained that the organization was established to challenge stereotypes that portray STEM careers as being exclusively for men.
She said: “W.TEC has used many years to empower girls with the skills, confidence and exposure needed to succeed in science and technology.
“The Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre is dedicated to bridging the gender gap in STEM by inspiring girls, teaching them and giving them opportunities to see beyond what they have been told since childhood.
“Our main objective is not only to bridge the gender gap but also to break the stereotype that STEM is a boys’ club and meant only for men.
“In doing so, we have inspired over 60,000 girls and women across Nigeria, West Africa and Southern Africa, and we hope to continue doing so for many more years.”
Oduntan said the camp was designed to ignite interest in STEM among teenage girls and expose them to opportunities in engineering, science, technology and innovation.
She identified lack of confidence and limited access to mentors as major barriers facing girls in STEM fields.
“One of the biggest challenges females face in engineering and the STEM industry as a whole is confidence.
“Another challenge is access to mentors; people they can look up to and who can tell them that they are capable and not limited in any way,” she said.
She said that W.TEC’s alumni network continued to support participants through mentorship, career guidance and access to opportunities.
Oduntan also described funding as a major challenge confronting programmes aimed at empowering girls in STEM.
According to her, many of W.TEC’s activities are sustained through partnerships with organizations, companies and individuals who share its vision.
Also speaking, the Head, Budget, Engineering Materials Development Institute (EMDI) Akure, the hosts of the event, Mr Otebiyi Olushola, described the collaboration between EMDI and W.TEC as a strategic.
He said it was meant to expose girls to engineering careers and encourage greater female participation in the sector.
Olushola said EMDI, one of the leading engineering institutions in Nigeria and West Africa, focuses on engineering materials development, equipment production and component manufacturing.
“We believe that introducing engineering to the girl-child will help create a future where women take the lead in engineering.
“We are exposing them to our facilities, human resources and equipment so they can see the opportunities available and understand that there is nothing they cannot achieve,” he said.
He also highlighted the Developing Engineering Leaders Through Her (DELHER) initiative, a NASENI-backed programme, designed to support female engineers through grants and development opportunities.
According to him, the initiative is aimed at encouraging more women to pursue careers in engineering and innovation.
Mrs Ojo Elizabeth, a Principal Laboratory Technologist, said the programme was targeted at young girls to inspire them early and dismantle misconceptions about women in science and engineering.
“Science and engineering are for both genders. Girls can excel, make significant contributions and become leaders in these fields,” she said.
One of the participants, Miss Esther Ogidan of CAC Grammar School, Akure, said the programme had changed her perception of engineering and strengthened her confidence.
“From today’s lecture I have learnt that I have the capacity to do what men can do and even do it better,” she said.
She further said the programme taught her the importance of curiosity, critical thinking, teamwork and self-belief.
The organizers expressed optimism that initiatives such as She Creates Camp would inspire more girls to pursue careers in STEM and contribute meaningfully to technological advancement and national development. (NAN).
