February 11 is designated the Women and GirlChild in Science Assembly Day. It is a day set aside to draw attention to the gender gap in the science and technology world with a view to bridging that gap.
In a world calling for inclusion and gender equity for a more progressive and humane society, the low presence of women and girls in this sector demands attention. The current world is knowledge driven and this is majorly technology based. However, the sad fact is that even though women and girls have critical roles to play here, social and cultural factors continue to inhibit their inclusion and equitable engagement in contributing to societal advancement.
It is common knowledge that very few women and girls embrace science and technology in this country, some resulting from perceived fear of encountering difficulties, others because of societal stereotyping which reserves sciences for the males, and poor motivation from the school system.
The result is that society is denied the diversity the female gender brings to science and innovative technology by their absence. Men, boys and women, girls view the world from different perspectives and technology impacts them differently. Getting an equitable representation of both sexes therefore, provides for better services to humanity.
The contributions from early female scientists like Marie Currie and the household innovations by other women especially, from the US, cannot be forgotten fie they have improved lives especially for families. More female presence ìs needed now more than ever to help address the present numerous challenges posed by developmental changes in areas like resource management and environmental degradation, climate change, new health care/diseases, clean energy, water, sanitation and the impact on women and girls.
Technology is the vogue now and that is where all should gravitate towards.
It is not surprisingIt therefore. that the focus for this year’s Women and GirlChild Science and Technology Intern Day is on advancing the route to the 2030 Agenda which seeks to leave no one behind. We need to build up the presence of women and girls in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM for a more sustainable world.
Girls especially, need to be eencouraged and provided opportunities through availability of basic educational tools like well equipped science laboratories, access to computers and Internet facilities, to develop interest in studying science and technology in order to be able to fit into present day job demands and also effectively contribute to societal advancement
Our schools in the rural areas are seriouslyn lacking in this area. They need special attention- incentives to attract qualified science teachers and state of the art tools the for the knowledge transfer.
This also calls for more scholarships for females in the sciences and a gender bias free mindset among the populace.
CEMEFEC salutes our girls and young women winning laurels and securing top positions in the science world and calls upon others to explore the multitude of opportunities being offered by today’s world of science and technology to ensure that Nigerian women and girls become fully entrenched in this sector by year 2030.
Signed:
Constance Meju
Coordinator Centre for Media Environment and Development Communications CEMEDEC
Port Harcourt
Feb 11. 2023.
