Female science students in Kano have been encouraged to take courses in engineering to balance gender domination in the field.
Commemorating the 2025 International Day of Women and Girls in Science on Thursday in Kano, Moses Agbara, the Director of Programs at the Youth Initiative for Sustainable Human Development in Africa, said they are in Kano to connect young people with their future desires.
He explained that they are working with the Women Technology Empowerment Center of Lagos (WTEC) to encourage women’s participation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
This is done to create gender balance in Engineering fields. IHS Nigeria funds it to reach out to female science students in Kano.
He further expressed gratitude to the Kano Science Board for its support in reaching out to female science students.
“Our youth initiative aims to ensure that policies and programs that will benefit young people reach them.
“What we are doing is to be the bridge that connects young people with their desired future.
“Today, we are working with the Women Technology Empowerment Center (WTEC), based in Lagos, whose mission is also to see that young girls and women participate in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to create a gender balance.
“We are in Kano with the support of IHS Nigeria to be able to celebrate the 2025 edition of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science”, he stated.
This year’s event, which is hosted at the Kano New Girls Science and Technology College, is themed “Charting Her Path: Exploiting Exciting Careers In STEM.”
Speaking to Leadership, the WTEC Curriculum Development Coordinator says they empower young girls and women in STEM to balance gender differences.
“We do this to encourage girls to pursue STEM careers in the future.
“We know that not everybody will study STEM, but more will be encouraged to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics to bridge the gender gap in the field”, he stated.
Also, the college director, Sadeeqatu Abdullahi, expressed gratitude for encouraging girls to take engineering courses. This helps disabuse people of the misconception that such classes are meant only for males.
“As we celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, this program is encouraging and empowering young girls to take up courses in engineering.
“There is no gender balance in the field as it is widely seen to be a male thing, which has been discouraged through this engagement”, she stated.
Delivering her address at the event, Zeenatu Yaradua, the Field Site Engineer of IHS Nigeria, gave a brief about her journey as a female engineer from the north to encourage the young girls participating in the event, saying there are a lot of opportunities waiting for them as females in the engineering sector.
“Don’t accept the wrong notion that Medicine is only what the girls can go for; no, engineering is also ours”, she stated.
A hundred girls were placed in ten groups by the coordinator from WTEC, Lesley, to participate in a project session where the winners took home some prizes for assembling a rechargeable lamp.
The New Girls Science and Technology College Kano also received a donation of science equipment. IHS Nigeria presented the college with two Arduino kits for continuous STEM practice.
