Final Day in Nigeria
The delegation’s final day in Nigeria was filled with exciting, interactive sessions for women in STEM from nearby cities hosted at Civic Innovation Lab. The day began with a welcome and introduction from TechWomen Lead Jillian Scott, State Department Representative Callie Ward and 2017 fellows Dami Ade and Carolyn Seaman.
The first keynote speech was delivered by Wing Commander HJ Ali of Airforce Comprehensive Girls School and was followed by a panel moderated by 2013 fellow Hannah Kabir. The panel included Ify Malo, the CEO of Power for All, Adaeze Sokan, the Program Head at Civic Innovation Lab and TechWomen mentor Saura Naim of Juniper Networks. The women discussed how the tech industry can create socially responsible impact as well as the need to empower women to help solve Nigeria’s energy deficit.
Left to right: 2013 fellow Hannah Kabir, mentor Saura Naim, Ify Malo and Adaeze Sokan.
Success Stories
After a networking break, six fellows of Nigeria introduced themselves, their experiences during the TechWomen program and the impact they have made upon returning home.
2014 fellow Joy Agene moderated the second panel of the day while mentors Elizabeth Deng and Leedjia Svec, as well as two female Nigerian tech leaders, served as panelists. The women discussed what first inspired them to enter STEM fields and the challenges they faced during their careers. Elizabeth also spoke about what she loves about the tech industry, saying “Tech is a vehicle for lifelong learning. You’re never done.”
“There is a STEM for everyone!” Mentor Leedjia Svec (center) encouraged the audience to get involved and stay involved in STEM careers.
After lunch, the audience broke into small group sessions with TechWomen mentors and fellows. Topics included techniques to secure funding, social entrepreneurship, self-branding and making the most of mentorship opportunities.
The evening ended with a farewell dinner along the Jabi waterfront with traditional Nigerian drummers and dancers. The group reflected on their week and heard a final thank you and goodbye from Techwomen lead Jillian Scott and mentor Queen Denchukwu.
Mentor Larissa Shapiro presents a certificate of appreciation to fellows (left to right) Ogo Maduewesi, Binta Moustapha, Hannah Kabir, Chioma Ezedi, Joy Agene and Carolyn Seaman.
Speak Your Mind