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Female secondary school students have been enjoined to pursue a career in Science and technology as a way of bridging the gender gap in Nigeria.
Giving the advice, a firm known as power company, GE Vernova’s Gas Power Business said the only way that the yawning gap between the male and their female counterpart is the inability of the latter to vigorously pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics to bridge the gender gap.
This encouragement was recently given at a ‘Girls in STEM’ event hosted by the power firm in collaboration with a Non-Governmental Organisation Junior Achievement Nigeria held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The event was aimed at encouraging young school girls in choosing careers that will prepare the next generation of women engineers and innovators.
No fewer than 100 participants were drawn from three schools across Rivers State to tour the power plants and experience potential careers in STEM and students from Nasarawa, Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, and others who earlier joined virtually.
Speaking at the event, Services Executive for GE Vernova’s Gas Power business in Sub-Saharan Africa, Kenneth Oyakhire said the event was in commemoration of the International Day for Women in Engineering.
Oyakhire explained that it was also
aimed at exposing the girls to a network of female role models and organising experiential and discovery sessions that will provide an immersive experience into potential careers they can explore in STEM.
He emphasised the need to look into factors that discourage girls from pursuing STEM, the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
” It is important to delve beyond surface-level issues and identify the underlying factors that discourage girls from pursuing careers in STEM.”
He, however, expressed the hope that the move will pave the way for a future of high-quality careers in the sectors presumably dominated by men.
On her part, Foluso Gbadamosi, Executive Director of JAN, represented by the Programme Manager, Olaolu Akogun, while harping on the significance of commemorating women succeeding in “men’s world” said there is no better time than now to expose the young girls to the possibilities of a career in STEM.
She further said it was important to equip young girls with the right mindset and showcase the opportunities available to pursue their dreams and aspirations.
Gbadamosi while underscoring the benefits of stimulating their interest and launching their STEM careers, said it was not only for their economic future but also for building thriving communities.
One of the beneficiaries of the corporate social responsibility activity, Emmanuel Princess of Methodist Girls High School, thanked GE and JAN for giving girls the necessary exposure to guide them through career choices.
