US experts groom Nigerian women on technology

A 16-member delegation of senior women technology executives and professionals from Silicon Valley, California, visited Nigeria as part of the TechWomen programme to mentor young Nigerian women working in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Members of the delegation are from Twitter, LinkedIn, Netflix, Mozilla, Autodesk, Women College Tech, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Juniper Networks, as well as Fairrer Samani Group, Northgate Environmental Management, Jessica Dickinson Goodman Consulting, and the Institute of International Education.

In an event organised in Lagos featuring panel discussions, the young Nigerian women in STEM were urged to utilise the importance of networking in their enterprise.

In his remarks, John Bray, US consul general, said STEM education is the key foundation for any country’s economic success.

He said: “Sadly, many young women who pursue studies in STEM at tertiary institutions share stories of being grossly outnumbered by men. In workplaces, women in STEM fields face discriminatory practices and behaviours from colleagues and supervisors including compensation at lower levels than male counterparts for their labour. They also generally lack opportunities for coaching, mentoring, and growth compared to their male colleagues.“

“Here’s the blunt truth: without women’s inclusive participation, any gains in economic growth and development, as well as advances in science and technology, would be lopsided and unsustainable. Therefore, it is critical that women’s voices, at all levels, find representation in collaborative solutions that will have an impact on them.”

Pamela O’leary, the leader of the delegation, said the bigger picture for the TechWomen mentoring programme in Nigeria is to encourage more woman and girls to become leaders in STEM and technology all around the world.

“We’ve come to spread the word and the mission of TechWomen within the community. The last few days, we’ve been going to many different schools to meet with young women and girls. This is the beginning of a prosperous relationship in building a network. Our hope is that more of women entrepreneurs will take a lead in creating a tech economy in Nigeria. ”

Speaking with TheCable after the event, Julian Etuokwu-Oludumila, one of the participants, said she would leverage on technology in order to achieve a 100 percent increase in her business.