In celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child, SheSOLVES Africa organized a STEMFutures Intergenerational Dialogue and Awards Ceremony on Saturday, October 12, 2024. The event recognized the winners of both the STEMFutures Essay Competition and Buildathon, bringing together inspiring voices from the fields of education, STEM, and youth development.
The event opened with a keynote address by Professor Adenike Osofisan, the first female professor of computer science in Africa. Professor Osofisan shared her academic and career journey, motivating the girls in attendance to remain focused, work hard, and surround themselves with the right people to achieve success in their careers. In a fireside chat with SheSOLVES Africa founder Abigael AnazaMark, Professor Osofisan envisioned a future where STEM education in Nigeria and Africa would go fully digital, with immersive technologies transforming science laboratory sessions. She also called for better teacher recruitment, emphasizing the need for subject matter experts who possess strong teaching skills.
An intergenerational panel discussion followed, featuring notable participants including Professor Oyedunni Arulogun (Professor of Public Health and Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation), Morolake Akintayo (a Senior Secondary School 2 student), Elder Binuyo Delani (representing the Oyo State Ministry of Education), and Salome Olusoji (President of Women in Engineering, University of Ibadan). The panelists shared insights on their personal journeys, challenges in the STEM field, and the importance of empowering young women in STEM.
Professor Arulogun spoke about defying the odds and leveraging her diverse skills to build a successful career. Morolake Akintayo highlighted her role in advocating for qualitative health education in her school, while Elder Binuyo Delani discussed the state government’s efforts to improve education, including a rigorous screening process for teacher recruitment. Salome Olusoji highlighted opportunities available through Women in Engineering and encouraged young women from all disciplines to join the society.
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The event also showcased the work of students who participated in the STEMFutures Bazaar Buildathon, where they translated their essay ideas on the “Next STEM Laboratory” into 3D models. The student teams pitched their ideas to a panel of judges, with the top two projects receiving cash prizes.
Zindzi Udonsi from the University of Nigeria Nsukka took first place in the essay competition, winning ₦100,000, while Adedoyin Ayandele and Oluwanifemi Adeyemi from the University of Ibadan came second and third, winning ₦50,000 and ₦30,000 respectively.
A total of 75 participants attended the event, including 20 students from King’s Way College, IdiAyunre, Ibadan. Two of the students had the opportunity to engage in a dialogue with Professor Osofisan and were gifted copies of Lara’s Lessons by veteran journalist RonkeGiwa Onafuwa.
The event was supported by the Bezaleel Collective and The Girl Force Movement.
SheSOLVES Africa, founded in 2018, is dedicated to empowering girls and young women in STEM through projectbased learning, mentorship, and research. The organization has impacted over 1,682 girls across Africa. For more information, visit [www.shesolvesafrica.com](http://www.shesolvesafrica.com).
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