A continental youth capacity building workshop kicked off on Thursday in Nairobi, Kenya with the aim of empowering African girls with the knowledge and skills of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics
(STEAM).
Organised by the African Union International Centre for Girls and Women’s Education (AU-CIEFFA) in collaboration with the UN Women, the workshop seeks to equip young African women leaders with essential digital and financial literacy skills, according to the statement issued by the AU on Thursday.
Simone Yankey, coordinator of the AU CIEFFA, said that what African girls have often lacked is not talent, but equitable access to technology, inspiring female role models, and an educational environment that nurtures and believes in their potential.
“For far too long, science has been viewed as a domain reserved for boys and men. While this narrative is gradually shifting, the representation of girls and women in STEAM remains disproportionately low. Yet, young African girls possess the curiosity, creativity and intellectual rigour required to drive innovation,” Yankey said.
Despite progress, girls remain significantly underrepresented in STEAM education across Africa. Women account for only 35% of STEM graduates, a figure that has stagnated over the past decade.
“It is critical not only to equip girls with digital and leadership skills, but also to advocate for policies that guarantee their access to technology and to push for national education systems to integrate gender, ICT, and coding-related skills,” Joshua Musyimi, Programme Specialist at UN Women Kenya Office, said.
The workshop also celebrates the achievements of women as role models in STEAM, including projects led by the AU Go-Gal Top 10 innovators.
MG/gik/APA