Foundation, Firm Collaborate to Empower Secondary School Girls in Oyo

In celebration of the 2024 International Day of the Girl Child, the STEM Education Development Foundation (SEDF) collaborated with SkillNG to provide secondary school girls in Oyo State with essential skills for success in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Held at Café One in Ibadan, the event was themed “Girls Vision for the Future” and aimed to harness learning and technology to pave the way for successful STEM careers for young girls. Participants gained insights into the importance of continuous learning and adaptability in today’s digital age.

The keynote address was delivered by Mr. Lukman Aroworamimo, Managing Director of Inqaba Biotec West Africa, who stressed the need to cultivate a learning culture among young girls to prepare them for future careers in STEM.

The event also included two hands-on training sessions led by Damilola Alimi, a software engineer, and Abisola Esan, a botanist and media personality.

Damilola focused on understanding the learning quotient necessary for career success and the role of technology in STEM fields, while Abisola addressed the development of problem-solving skills and the challenges of gender biases and stereotypes.

Additionally, Damilola conducted an interactive session demonstrating how to build a smart toll gate using Arduino.

Bashirat Shodipo, Executive Director of SEDF, emphasized the significance of a high learning and adaptability quotient among girls for successful STEM careers.

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“It’s not enough to tell our girls to aspire to be STEM leaders; we must also demonstrate how to achieve that. I’m thrilled that this event has been impactful for the participants, who have learned valuable skills to support their STEM career journeys,” Shodipo remarked.

She reiterated SEDF’s dedication to promoting STEM education in Nigeria, highlighting initiatives like the annual Cell is Life Inter-Secondary School STEM Competition, which has reached over 7,000 students across Oyo, Ogun, and Delta States.

“We will continue to promote STEM education through various activities,” she added.

The co-founder of SkillNG also expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, noting the importance of equipping young girls with in-demand skills.

“At SkillNG, we are committed to helping young people gain the skills and experience necessary to thrive in the job market, and we are delighted to provide this support to our beneficiaries. Our girls are the future, and we need them in STEM,” he stated.

This event marked a significant step in empowering young girls to pursue STEM careers while addressing gender biases and equipping them with essential skills for the future.

Through initiatives like this, the STEM Education Development Foundation and its partners continue to lay the groundwork for a future where young women actively shape the STEM landscape in Nigeria and beyond.