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The Education and Empowerment Centre for Women (EECW), a non-governmental organization, has called for increased promotion of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education for girls in rural areas of Kaduna State.
EECW’s Project Coordinator, Mr. Ben Dankaka, made the appeal during a science-themed debate in Kagoro, Kaura Local Government Area, organized under the Laraba Deyjih Akapson Science Innovation Prize for Girls initiative.
Dankaka emphasized that the program seeks to empower young girls with limited access to STEM education and resources. The initiative was established in honor of the late Mrs. Laraba Deyjih Akapson, mother of EECW founder, Senator Nenadi Usman, to continue her legacy of service.
“With girls making up a large portion of Nigeria’s population, it is crucial to provide them with more opportunities in science and technology,” Dankaka stated.
He highlighted the low participation of Nigerian students in STEM compared to countries like China and India, with fewer than 25% of students opting for STEM fields and even fewer completing STEM degrees.
Delivering a keynote address titled “The Future of Education: How Young Innovators Can Change the World,” Mrs. Gillian Ashio, Head of the Technical Education Department at Kaduna State College of Education, stressed the importance of innovation in Nigeria’s educational system.
“Young people can revolutionize education by introducing creative solutions where traditional methods have failed,” she said, citing Finland’s hands-on learning approach as an example.
The event featured a debate competition among Girls Science Secondary School (GSSS) Kwoi, Government Girls College (GGC) Zonkwa, and Government Secondary School (GSS) Kagoro. The topic debated was: “Girls in Nigeria face more barriers in STEM due to cultural beliefs, not lack of interest.”
GSS Kagoro emerged as the winner, receiving three desktop computers, while GGC Zonkwa and GSSS Kwoi took second and third places, winning two and one desktop computer(s) respectively.
Flora Samuel of GSS Kagoro, speaking on behalf of the students, expressed gratitude to the organizers for encouraging girls in rural communities to explore careers in STEM.
