Women have made substantial contributions to the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields, but a gender disparity still persists. Ongoing efforts aim to promote more women pursuing STEM careers and to establish inclusive environments conducive to their success. Diversity within STEM is fundamental for fostering innovation and advancing society.

Throughout their educational journeys, girls and women are often directed away from science and mathematics, resulting in limited access, preparation, and opportunities to enter these fields as adults. Currently, women represent just 34% of the STEM workforce, and there is a significant overrepresentation of men in most STEM disciplines at the university level. This gender imbalance is particularly pronounced in rapidly growing and well-compensated future professions, such as computer science and engineering.

Challenges Contributing to the Gender Imbalance in STEM

Gender Stereotypes: Stereotypes that the STEM fields are often viewed as masculine and, teachers and parents often underestimate girls’ math abilities starting as early as preschool, which may dissuade women from pursuing their careers.

Lack of Role Models: Few visible female role models in STEM fields can make it challenging for young women to envision themselves in these careers. There are even fewer black women role models in maths and science.

Access to Education: In some regions, women may face limited access to quality STEM education, limiting their opportunities in these fields.

Networking Opportunities: Men often have more extensive networks in STEM which can provide them with more opportunities for collaboration and career advancement.

Lack of Policies: Insufficient policies and support for family leave, flexible work arrangements and mentoring programs can hinder women’s progress in STEM.

Implicit Bias: Unconscious biases can affect hiring, promotions and opportunities for women in STEM. These biases hinder career advancement and limit the contributions of female professionals.

Organisations Addressing the STEM Gender Gap in Nigeria

W.Tech has been a pioneering presence in Nigeria’s gender and technology domain since 2008. Their dedicated efforts have focused on enlightening the general populace about the significance of gender equality in the technology sector. This has been accomplished through various means such as training programs, participation in conferences, facilitating public dialogues, engaging in media interviews, and sharing our achievements and the experiences of our alumni.

Girl Code Academy places its primary emphasis on nurturing the human potential of talented and enthusiastic young Nigerian women with a keen interest in acquiring technical expertise in software and web application development. The platform provides training to aspiring female developers and programmers, equipping them with programming and development skills to enhance their competitiveness, proficiency, and readiness for careers as professionals or entrepreneurs.

She Code Africa is a non-profit organisation with a clear mission: to honour and support young girls and women in the field of technology throughout Africa. Their goal is to establish a community that embraces technological advancement, networking, mentorship, and visibility for individuals at all stages of their tech careers.

Intel, She will Connect’s primary objective is to celebrate and empower young girls and women in the technology sector across Africa. Their purpose is to create a community that fosters technological progress, facilitates networking, offers mentorship, and promotes visibility for individuals at various stages of their tech careers.

The Association of Women Engineers (APWEN) in Nigeria has over the years proven to be a strong voice advocating for more girls in STEM-related studies in secondary schools and tertiary institutions and seeking to address the challenges facing women and girls in STEM, to this end, they have adopted several mentorship programs, workshops and advocacy campaigns to encourage girls in STEM across Nigeria.