The InovTech STEM Foundation has empowered over 400 young girls from eight different schools at the Powered Girl Summit, held at Labone Senior High School in Accra, Ghana.
The summit under the theme “Igniting Her Potential” brought Achimota School, Labone Senior High School Talk to Me Foundation, Nobel Professional Institute, Sap’s School, Accra High School, Ibrahim Memorial, and Shalom School in Greater Accra Region to engage them in discussions and activities designed to foster excellence in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields.
In an open address, Ms. Richlyn Siaw, Director of Policy and Strategic Engagement at the InovTech STEM Centre, encouraged the participants to take full advantage of the day’s events, expressing her hope that they would find the summit enriching and valuable.
Also, Dr. Elena Rosca, Head of Engineering at Ashesi University, emphasized the transformative power of education in her address. She highlighted the growth of Ashesi University over the past 20 years and encouraged the girls to dream big. “If you put your mind to it, even if it seems impossible or small, you can make presentations all over the world like Ashesi students in Paris,” she said, inspiring attendees with stories of Ashesi students who participated in international competitions.
Adding to the inspiring atmosphere, Ms. Efua Adabie, Founding Headteacher of Africa Science Academy, urged the girls to embrace STEM as the future and use their skills to tackle pressing societal challenges. She highlighted Africa’s demographic trends, noting that by 2030, 42% of the world’s youth will be African, and encouraged young women to seize opportunities in STEM. She also pointed out that only 30% of science professionals in Africa are women, calling for more participation in the field.
The summit included a panel discussion titled “Driving Change: Girls as Leaders in the Digital Age,” featuring professionals like Jessica Ahedor of Science Journalism Ghana and Ms. Efua Adabie. Ahedor addressed the media’s limited coverage of science in Ghana and shared her experience establishing Science Journalism Ghana to mentor young girls in writing scientific stories. “Leadership is finding a problem and believing there is a solution,” she told the participants. Ms. Adabie further emphasized the importance of embracing curiosity and innovation in the ever-evolving job market, stating, “Attention is being shifted from traditional career paths to digital-age careers such as web development and data science.”
Participants also engaged in hands-on workshop sessions covering topics such as AI and machine learning, robotics, electronics, app development, and drone operations, providing them with practical experiences in STEM fields.
The second panel discussion, “Innovation for Impact: Girls in Emerging Technologies,” featured industry leaders like Adiza Alhassan of Divas in AI Ghana. Alhassan shared her journey as a fresh graduate, discussing the challenges she faced in expressing her ideas during meetings, and emphasized the importance of confidence in breaking barriers in STEM.
The Powered Girls Summit proved to be an inspiring platform for young girls, fostering their potential and encouraging them to pursue careers in STEM, ultimately aiming to bridge the gender gap in these crucial fields.
Watch our interview with the founder and the CEO of InovTech STEM Foundation
By: Michaella Addai
