NGO Wants Girls To Welcome STEM Initiative

A non-profit organisation, Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC), has urged more girls to embrace Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects to bridge the gender gap in the technology space.
Executive Director of the centre, Mrs. Oreluwa Lesi, made the call at an event organised to mark the International Girls in ICT Day at Bishop Howells Memorial Grammar School  in Lagos, weekend.
The Tide’s source reports that the event was organised in collaboration with Oracle Academy.
The source further  reports that over 100 girls across some selected secondary schools attended the event.
Lesi  also explained that STEM subjects were easy to learn, urging the students to pursue any career in the technology space.
She noted that closing the gender gap in the technology space was of critical importance to avoid loss of vast human resources that could contribute to national development.
She said they designed programmes such as W.TEC Academy, an after-school technology club, which was engaging and aimed at attracting more girls to pursue science and technology careers.
“The club targets girls between ages 10 and 17 years, who attend public schools in Nigeria. Through participation in the year-long technology club, the girls become more confident in writing programmes, developing applications and creating digital content”, she said.
Also speaking, the Territory Executive Manager, Oracle Nigeria, Oluwafumilayo Awelewa , said girls could become unstoppable if they had digital skills.
Awelewa  also explained that as technology skills became more crucial in the workplace, girls and young women in many parts of the world face being marginalised and left behind.
She said without equal access to technology and the internet, girls and women were not able to equally participate in the ever growing digital society.
Awelewa said holding back girls and women in this area affects every aspect of their lives, including their ability to speak out and campaign on issues that affect them.
“Technology is among the fastest-growing industries in the world, therefore, it requires more labour supply to thrive.
“Women make up almost half the workforce population. Their exclusion can deprive the technology industry of the crucial human resources it needs to grow”, she said.
Awelewa further said women were as good at technology as men, adding that it’s not the lack of interest that keeps women from pursuing tech-related occupations, but an unsupportive culture and an undervaluing of their capabilities.
She said learning digital skills was important for African women and girls because it can help them overcome gender disparities and increase their economic opportunities.
Awelewa continued that a good starting point to get women in technology was creating a supportive culture in homes, schools, and the workplace.
“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is to be understood; now is the time to understand more and be fearless. Never believe you could do less because you are a woman”, she said.
She, however, urged the girls that they could achieve more regardless of their gender, size, current department and life challenges.