Minister of innovation, science and technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, has said gender equality and empowerment of women and girls are critical to the socio-economic development of Nigeria.
Nnaji said this in Abuja at a one-day sensitisation programme on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) with the theme: “Unleashing Potential: Empowering the Girl-child for a Secured Future.”
Represented by the director of science, technology and promotion (STP) Ronald Ukpong, the minister said President Bola Tinubu administration intends to build strong, resilient and committed women leaders in the Innovation, Science and Technology sector that will drive the economy from consumption to production.
He said Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), is a new method of learning for easy understanding by the students, adding that “the participation of girls and women in the field of STEM remains significantly lower than that of men even in some of the world’s technologically advanced nations.”
Nnaji regretted that women especially in Africa were not recognised in the development of the society which resulted in stereotyping them as well as not utilising their potentials in proffering solutions to societal challenges.
He said to address the concern, the ministry seeks to develop the capacity of women especially through mainstreaming them into human capital development, agriculture, industrial growth and banking and finance amongst others.
The minister commended teachers for their resilience, dedication and diligence in their daily sacrifices to ensure that the children achieve their ambitions and dreams of greater self-reliance.
Earlier, the permanent secretary of the ministry, James Sule, said the federal government in its quest to develop the country technologically has established many federal universities of science and technology with the aim of improving teaching in STEM education.
