The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to creating opportunities for women and girls to participate and take leadership roles in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), as part of efforts to harness Africa’s talent and accelerate socio-economic transformation.
President William Ruto stressed that women must not only participate in Africa’s technological transformation but should be among its principal architects, noting that their inclusion in research, innovation and technology would strengthen the continent’s competitiveness.
“It requires us to move beyond conversations about women merely participating in STEM to create an environment where women are able to lead, to create, to research, invest, innovate, and shape the technologies and industries that define Africa’s future,” he advised.
The President, whose remarks were read by the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Education, Julius Migos Ogamba, during the Women in STEM Africa Summit 2026 in Nairobi, further noted that Africa had abundant talent in schools, universities, technical and vocational institutions, innovation hubs and communities, but challenged leaders to ensure such talent was identified, nurtured and connected to opportunities.
He also called for a comprehensive STEM pipeline linking education to skills, innovation, enterprise, investment and economic impact, saying education should equip learners not only with knowledge but also creativity and the ability to solve real-world problems.
The President urged African countries to transition from being consumers of technologies developed elsewhere, to becoming creators of technological solutions, intellectual property, and innovations suited to African challenges.
“Africa cannot afford to remain predominantly a consumer of technologies developed elsewhere. We must increasingly become creators, builders of intellectual property and exporters of technological solutions to global markets,” he reiterated.
Speaking at the summit, the Principal Secretary (PS) for Higher Education, Dr. Beatrice Inyangala, insisted that Kenya’s challenges in agriculture, healthcare, climate change, manufacturing, energy, and digital transformation required increased investment in research and locally developed solutions.
She highlighted that women should have equitable opportunities to participate in and lead research, supervise doctoral students, head laboratories, access research grants, and benefit from intellectual property and patents.
“Our ambition must, therefore, move from access to leadership, from participation to leadership, from the inclusion of technology to becoming creators of technology,” urged the PS.
Dr. Inyangala called for stronger partnerships among universities, industry and investors to create pathways for women and girls into research, innovation and technology leadership.
The sentiments were echoed by Women in Technology and Innovation Africa (WITIA) Founder and Chairperson, Eunice Pohlmann, who noted that the Summit had brought together government, academia, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators and young people, because the challenges facing Africa could not be addressed by one sector alone.
Pohlmann assured that the value of the Summit would extend beyond formal sessions through connections between entrepreneurs and investors, students and mentors, and innovators and potential partners.
“To the young people and students joining us today, I have a very special message for you. Please make the most of being in this room. Don’t be afraid to walk up to someone you admire and introduce yourself,” she advised.
The Second Edition of the Women in STEM Africa Summit brings together policymakers, educators, researchers, technology professionals, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, and students, to deliberate on ways of advancing women’s participation and leadership in STEM.
Organizers for the Summit themed; ‘Discovering Talent, Driving Innovation, Shaping Africa’s Future’, reaffirmed that the gathering seeks to strengthen collaboration among government, academia, industry and other partners, while creating mentorship, research, investment and career opportunities for young women.
The speakers challenged participants to turn the discussions into practical partnerships and opportunities that would enable more girls and women to become researchers, technology developers, entrepreneurs, and leaders in Africa’s innovation ecosystem.
By Zipporah Odionyi/John Brighton
