Its bid to encourage more female students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), the Osaide for Girls in Science and Engineering Foundation has taken the campaign to schools.
At Baptist High School, Lagos, the Foundation rallied students to the prospects of STEM subjects and concluded with a competition.
Apart from the prizes, the keynote speaker, Dr Afolabi Ogundero, selected five girls for a visit to his clinic for a dental check.
Founded six years ago by Dr Patricia Opene-Odili, the foundation yearly gives six students in secondary school scholarship to study to university level. It has so had four graduates, three studying in the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and three girls in SS2.
She said: “Our mission is to pick young girls, especially the girl-child in public schools, mentor and encourage them to study science and engineering. We give girls in secondary school scholarships to study at the university level.”
Speaking on encouraging more female to study engineering, she said: “I was the President of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), Lagos Chapter, 21 years ago, and over the years, we have been able to encourage more women to study science and engineering and the number has grown. We have 44 chapters of APWEN as of today, and it’s work in progress. we will get there.
On why finance talk was included, she said: “One of the lessons I learnt in my young age from my mother is how to manage finances and that has helped me. When I retired, I came out with a lot of money because I saved so, teaching the children how to save is key; the children has to understand the value of money.
Head of Commercial, MI, Finance Limited, Adebowale Adegbite, who spoke on finance, said people, irrespective of age or gender, need financial literacy.
An SS3 student of the school, Mariam Akala, who appreciated the group, said that with commitment and hard work, one can achieve one’s dreams.
She said, “The female speaker, Mrs Uchechi Edosomwanin inspired me. I wasn’t sure I want to study engineering course in the university but I have been encouraged through her lecture to study engineering in the university.”
