‎Stakeholders at the fifth Women in Technology and Engineering Summit and Awards (WITESA) have warned that Africa cannot fully realise its potential if women remain underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and innovation, stressing that greater inclusion is critical to economic growth, competitiveness and development.

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‎They spoke at the WITESA 5.0 Awards Ceremony held under the theme, “Engineering Africa’s Future: Innovation, Infrastructure and Inclusive Technology,” where government officials, development partners and industry leaders called for increased investment in women and girls in STEM and recognition of female innovators driving change across the continent.

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‎Speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Cecelia Dada, said the success of WITESA over the last five years had demonstrated that when women are given access to opportunities, “they excel, they innovate and they transform societies.”

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‎According to her, the platform has impacted thousands of women through digital skills training, mentorship, professional development and recognition, while helping to build a growing community of female innovators, engineers, entrepreneurs and technology leaders contributing to Africa’s development.

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‎She said Africa cannot fully realise its potential if half of its talent is left behind, adding that women constitute a significant portion of the population, yet they remain underrepresented in many areas of science, technology, engineering and innovation.

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‎“This is not merely a gender issue, it is an economic issue, a development issue and competitiveness issue,” she said.

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‎Dada said every time a talented young woman is unable to access quality education, mentorship, funding or opportunities within the technology ecosystem, society loses ideas, innovation and solutions to pressing challenges.

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‎She added that Lagos State was committed to building an environment where innovation thrives and opportunities are accessible regardless of gender or background.

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‎According to her, the state, through the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), continues to equip residents with digital and entrepreneurial skills, while the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council supports innovators, researchers and start-ups developing solutions with economic value.

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‎She further said the government was investing in digital infrastructure, technology-enabled governance and programmes aimed at increasing the participation of women and young people in the innovation ecosystem.

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‎Also speaking, European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, described investment in women in science, technology and engineering as one of the smartest investments any society could make.

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‎Mignot said WITESA had brought together policymakers, investors, engineers, scientists, startup funders, students and young innovators to discuss issues around infrastructure, artificial intelligence, cloud technologies, fintech and local solutions, as well as an innovation ecosystem in which women are a driving force.

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‎He noted that the awards promoted recognition, representation and responsibility by spotlighting women’s contributions, adding that visibility was important in encouraging more girls and young women to pursue careers in STEM.

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‎The ambassador noted that while progress had been made, barriers including unequal access to quality education and finance, recruitment and investment biases, safety concerns and the burden many women carry at home and work still persist.

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‎According to him, celebrating success must go hand in hand with efforts to change the systems that make such success difficult to attain.

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‎“This is not only about fairness and women’s rights, it is about unlocking Nigeria and Africa’s full potential by setting free the entire potential of women,” he said.

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‎Earlier, Founder of Womenovate and Convener of WITESA, Motunrayo Opayinka, said inclusion was no longer a choice but a necessity for technology, engineering and the broader STEM ecosystem.

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‎She said the fifth edition of WITESA was hosted in Lagos because of the city’s position within Africa’s innovation ecosystem, adding that inclusive solutions are more robust and better reflect the needs of society.

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‎Opayinka said the summit was also designed to showcase women making significant contributions in technology and engineering in order to inspire younger generations.

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‎“We believe very strongly in role modeling. Seeing is believing. The young ones can see and aspire and be inspired equally,” she said.

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‎She acknowledged that while progress was being made, the gender gap remained a global challenge, adding that organisations and ecosystem players must continue intentional efforts to close existing gaps.

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‎Representing Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Architect Bolanle Olukareh, said technology was shaping the future of economies and societies but warned that growth must be inclusive.

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‎She identified internet access, electricity, digital literacy and affordability as challenges still affecting many communities and rural areas, calling for greater investment in broadband infrastructure, digital education, skills development and policies that make technology accessible to women, youth, small businesses and underserved communities.

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‎Olukareh said Lagos had demonstrated what was possible through investments in technology hubs, digital education, healthcare innovation and broadband expansion, adding that such efforts could serve as a model for other states.

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‎The awards ceremony also featured the presentation of awards to individuals and organisations recognised for contributions to technology, engineering, innovation and digital transformation.

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‎Among the recipients were Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Kadri Hamzat; Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem; University of Lagos Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola; MTN Nigeria Chief Information Officer, Bukola Ajayi; First Bank Group Chief Information Officer, Rachel Adeshina; PiggyVest Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, Odunayo Eweniyi; and MoneyAfrica Chief Executive Officer, Oluwatosin Olaseinde.

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‎Other award recipients included KPMG, Shell Plc, eHealth Africa, the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) and Equinix Inc.

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‎Receiving the Cyber Security Excellence Award on behalf of CyberSafe Foundation founder, Confidence Staveley, a representative of the organisation said the recognition reflected the contributions of women who had created opportunities and solutions within the sector while demonstrating that cybersecurity was not a male-only field.

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‎The representative encouraged young women interested in technology and engineering to begin their journeys immediately, saying: “Start today, start anyhow, and keep moving.”