STEMi Africa, Danne Institute organise TechPower bootcamp for Lagos girls
Add as a preferred source STEMi Makers of Africa, in partnership with the Danne Institute of Research, has launched a one-year after-school programme to train girls across public schools in Surulere, Lagos State, in basic science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) fields and careers. The partners noted that the TechPower Project Bootcamp is a hands-on STEM […]
STEMi Makers of Africa, in partnership with the Danne Institute of Research, has launched a one-year after-school programme to train girls across public schools in Surulere, Lagos State, in basic science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) fields and careers. The partners noted that the TechPower Project Bootcamp is a hands-on STEM integration programme that will introduce girls in their first year of senior secondary education to technology, give them confidence in their abilities, offer them a space to freely develop their potential, and show them the usefulness of science and technology for society, while tackling inhibiting gender stereotypes. The project began this year on July 8 during the long-term summer holiday and will span through the new school term in 2027. It began with 25 girls selected through interviews to discover their keen interests and basic understanding of robotics, coding, web development, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Each beneficiary will be given the STEMi Foundations textbook and workbook, do-it-yourself (DIY) project materials, and the STEMi toolkits for their hands-on exercises. The Founder and Executive Director of STEMi Makers of Africa, Dr Amanda Obidike, said that the objective of the one-year project is to improve problem-based learning competencies in the classroom and increase retention of girls’ participation through physical computing, coding, robotics, and project-based learning activities aligned to environmental thematic areas and instructional pedagogy in engineering design processes. Dr Obidike noted that globally, women are underrepresented in STEM subjects, adding that in Nigeria, only about 22 per cent of graduates in STEM subjects are women. “Key factors behind this gender gap are gender stereotypes, a lack of role models for women, male-dominated cultures, and mathematics anxiety. This gender gap in STEM enrollment is particularly evident in Nigeria, where female students are often discouraged from pursuing STEM fields due to cultural and societal norms that prioritise male education and careers,” she said. ALSO READ:Oloolu festival: Palace speaks on TikToker’s alleged ordeal after recording processionThe Founder and Executive Director of Danne Institute of Research, Professor Franca Ovadje, said that TechPower is a research and intervention project of the institute. He added that the participants would be mentored to find out why they decided to pursue careers in STEM and why others did not. The lead facilitators and trainers, Somtoo Obidike and Precious Chinaza Chigbo, shared that they hope to implement STEM key activities in physical computing, robotics engineering, and design thinking, where students will continue working in break-outs to reiterate their projects to solve their immediate community challenges. WATCH TOP VIDEOS FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE TVBack to School, Back to Business A Fresh StartRelationship Hangout: Public vs Private Proposals – Which Truly Wins in Love?“No” Is a Complete Sentence: Why You Should Stop Feeling GuiltyRelationship Hangout: Friendship Talk 2025 – How to Be a Good Friend & Big Questions on FriendshipPolice Overpower Armed Robbers in Ibadan After Fierce StruggleGet real-time news updates from Tribune Online! Follow us on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive stories and interviews, and much more. Join our WhatsApp Channel now