STEMi Makers Africa partners ITU to train 250 across Africa on ‘Girls in ICT Day’
The Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Innovation Makers of Africa (STEMi Makers of Africa) hosted one of the largest gatherings in the world that celebrates girls in ICT on the 27th and 28th, of April 2023.
To mark the International Girls in ICT Day 2023, STEMi Makers of Africa partnered with the International Telecommunication Union to host 250 secondary school girls in Accra, Ghana; Lagos, Nigeria; Yaounde, Cameroon; Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; and Nairobi, Kenya.
The initiative was a continental effort to raise awareness on empowering and encouraging young women and girls to consider studies and careers in Technology.
According to the British Council, the jobs of the future will be driven by technology and innovation — 65 percent of children entering primary school today will have jobs that do not yet exist.
STEMi Makers Africa alongside its implementing partners ensured girls were immersed in hands-on learning, mentorship and role models to help build girls’ confidence and persistence in ICT and STEM careers.
The objective of the bootcamp was to reduce the gender digital gap by exposing African girls to and equipping them with computer and information technology skills through Coding, Robotics, basic Engineering, the Internet of Things, Software Development, and Cloud Computing provided by STEM-related education that will open doors in entrepreneurship and career opportunities in the job market later in life.
Amanda Obidike, founder of STEMi Makers of Africa, in her opinion regarded her organisation’s partnership with global brands like Microsoft and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as a crucial step in supporting young women and girls all over Africa to gain the necessary digital skills, enter ICT and STEM careers, and improve workplace conditions to ensure they can thrive in the digital economy.
“We are so thankful for implementing partners like Microsoft Nigeria and Kenya, Timiza Ndoto Initiative and Robotech Labs from Tanzania, Hacklab Foundation and Maker Place from Ghana, and Kenya Women in STEAM Initiative from Kenya who exposed girls to a wholesome learning experience with a primary focus on building their coding and leadership skills,” said Amanda.
The program also provided peer-to-peer learning, sharing, and collaboration experience for the participants.
Through these immersive experiences, 250 girls across 5 African states shared experiences in terms of strategies and approaches used by their respective countries and educational systems to support girls to embrace science, technology, and innovation.
Source: STEMi Makers Africa
Abeeb Lekan Sodiq is a Managing Editor & Writer at theafricandream.net. He is as well a Graphics Designer and also known as Arakunrin Lekan.
