CSACEFA Advocates for Girls’ Empowerment in STEM Technology

Ugo Aliogo

The Lagos State Coordinator, CSACEFA, Stella Francis, has called for the increased empowerment of girls in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), adding they are the future leaders, innovators, and changemakers in the world, yet they face discrimination, inequality and barriers that hinder their full potential.

She stated this recently in Lagos at an event to mark the International Day of the Girl Child organised by the Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA), in partnership with Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB)

“Today, we unite to address these challenges, to amplify the voices of girls and to advocate for a world where they can thrive and flourish without limitation. As we gather here, let us remember that investing in the education, health, and well-being of girls is not just a moral imperative, but also a smart investment in the future.”

In her remarks, the State Public Relations Officer, CSACEFA, Margaret Nkire, noted that the event for the girls child was an opportunity to get the attention of the girl child in schools with the intention to spark their interest in studying STEM and taking up possible future careers in engineering and related field and for the government to Improve efforts in gender mainstreaming of science and technology.

She added: “Today young girls in Lagos and Nigeria are breaking barriers and this is a new era for more investment in girls’ technological empowerment which will break the gender bias. The UN SDGs goal 4 targets inclusive and equitable quality education and promotion of lifelong learning opportunities for all when you limit girls’ opportunity to advance technologically it further widens the gender gaps and hampers a country’s economic development and global advancement because it is not a girls’ or women only issue but a societal problem.”

The founder and Executive Director, Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC), Oreoluwa Lesi, said the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report has revealed that for engineering and technology courses, women make up 22 per cent of the graduates, while men make up 78 per cent.  

Lesi, said in terms of the workplace, statistics show that women make up about 20 per cent on the technology workplace.

She also stated that at board level, women are still in the minority, adding that whether starting out or even getting to the top, Nigeria doesn’t have sufficient women in leadership, which is discouraging for women moving up to leadership. 

On his part, the Director, Child Guidance, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Oladeji Olawole, said the role of the ministry is to oversee what is going on here and to encourage the organizer, they need to do more, adding that there is need to change values, norms, and cultural aspect is about girl child education.