At the Ladies In Science exhibition organized by the Embassy of France and Insitut Francais, Nigeria, the concentrate is on highlighting ladies in science, but the message centers on fostering digital access for ladies to thrive in Science, Technologies, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
The exhibition chronicles ten female scientists, 5 French scientists, and 5 African scientists, one particular from Nigeria, in recognition of the considerable discoveries and analysis ladies have contributed to the field of science more than the years.
It is in line with the United Nations 2023 theme for International Women’s Day, DigitALL Innovation and Technologies for Gender Equality.
Ladies In Science is a reminder that even though there appears to be a low presence of ladies in international science, there are a lot more of ladies sciences than we believed of, and even African ladies scientists. Therefore, the need to have to highlight them. There is Lesotho’s Tebello Nyokong contribution to nanotechnology and photochemotherapy which paved the way for safer cancer detection and therapy, an option that kills cancer cells in the physique without the need of damaging other cells. Kenya’s Wangari Muta Maathai, founded the Green Belt movement, the biggest movement against deforestation that helped plant more than 50 million trees, and fight for humans’ rights and in distinct ladies rights.
Madagascan, Zara Randriamanakoto co-founded the Malagasy Astronomy and Space Science association to market astronomy amongst young students, and the international movement Ikala STEM that rallies about 300 ladies scientists across 4 continents that inspire girls and ladies to a profession in science. She is one particular of the two female astrophysicists in Madagascar, and is at present investigating the formation, evolution and disruption mechanisms of enormous star clusters. Francine Ntoumi worked to avoid the spread of ailments like Ebola, top a project for the EU to fight the Ebola virus epidemic. She also began the project to encourage young girls to study sciences known as Femmes & Sciences. Lastly, Nigeria’s Ekanem Nkpi Braide credited with the eradication of guinea worm in Nigeria. Braide is also the present and initially female president of the Nigerian Academy of Science given that its establishment in 1944. All ten ladies received international science awards for the contributions to science.
In reality, a 16-year-old Nigerian girl, Faith Odunsi final year (2021), became the globe mathematics champion, soon after she won the International Open Mathematics Tournament.
Even so, in Africa, and especially Nigeria, the quantity of Africa ladies in science is not translating to an enhanced quantity of ladies in science. This is for a quantity of causes, the lack of access to education, inadequate access simple science education and infrastructure, as effectively as low access to digital technologies.
Therefore, TECH HER’s CEO, Chioma Agwuegbo’s challenge to the exhibition’s attendees to assistance enhancement of women’s/girls’ access to DigiTech.
“There can’t be digital innovation without the need of access. There can’t be digital innovation without the need of infrastructure. My organization runs a digital inclusive project that has so far reached 19 schools in peri-urban communities in Abuja. In some of these schools, the kids sit on the floor. some of these schools are not connected to the national grid.
“I want to enjoin each and every one particular of right here these days, each and every time you appear at the pictures, believe of the sensible, sustainable strategies we can engage and shift the needle on access. Consider of sustainable, sensible and revolutionary strategies, we can engage with our partners, be it neighborhood or international to guarantee that we have a lot more girls in classrooms who are secure, beyond signing treaties and signing of partnerships.”
In her message to young Nigerian girls, the French Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Emmanuelle Blatmann, reassured them they can be something they want to be in the field of science, regardless of naysayers who may well claim it is a field for the opposite sex. “You can thrive in the what ever sector you want. It is not simply because you are a lady that you can’t do it. Almost everything is for you.”
To ladies everywhere she urged to go into politics. “My only regret is the quite tiny quantity of ladies in politics. I believe it is critical this alter more than the years. I know some ladies do not want to go into politics simply because it can be a challenging sector. But, if you seriously want to alter points, we need to have ladies who want to go into politics. We also need to have guys who are He for Shes that are believers in ladies and are prepared to assistance them,” concluded Blatmann.
