The University of Education, Winneba Branch of Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics-Ghana (WiSTEMGh) was officially inaugurated in Winneba on Wednesday March 8, 2023. The day which coincided with the International Women’s Day Celebration brought together students and lecturers in science and mathematics education together to seek to encourage more women to pursue science and mathematics to better their lives and help develop the country as a whole.
The Ceremony, graced by high profile personalities, including representatives of the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, and the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Hajia Lariba Abudu respectively saw various speakers touch on the need to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5(SDG5) by bridging the gender disparity gap through the promotion of science technology, engineering and mathematics education among females in the society.
Presenting the vision and goals of the group, the founder, Prof.Mrs. Ibok Nsa Oduro said that focus of WiSTEMGH is mentoring the younger generation of women, whipping up girls’ interest in science education and building the leadership capacity of its members. This according to her falls within the vision of WiSTEM Ghana which has as its slogan ‘’Together We Inspire Generations.”
Prof. Ibok Nsa Oduro, decried the leaky pipeline in STEM education which according to her was very familiar with women in science. She observed further that in recent times, there have been various global interventions and strategies aimed at solving this challenge.
Prof. Ibok Oduro encouraged women to be at the forefront to pursue the needed change with the support of their male counterparts. She reiterated the aims of WiSTEMGh-UEW with the hope that the activities of the Association will contribute to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4) on Quality education and (SDG 5) on Gender Equality.
Whiles inaugurating the Branch, Prof Ibok Oduro gave a background to the establishment of WiSTEM, the purpose for its existence, myths about STEM, aims and objectives and the future of WiSTEMGh- UEW branch. She shared her vision for the Association which included 50% increased enrollment of young girls into STEM programmes, who could spearhead, and dominate scientific research in Ghana and occupy higher positions in in all spheres of life and in the country as a whole.
For his part the Municipal Chief Executive for the Effutu Municipality, Hon. Alhaji Zubairu Kassim, who represented the Member of Parliament for the Effutu Constituency, Hon. Alexander Afenyo- Markin as the chairman for the occasion advised women to push themselves into greatness by dragging their colleagues along to boost women in science and mathematics education.
Hon. Zubairu Kassim, stated that the development of Ghana needed to be linked with science and technology with the potential to bring about the much needed development in line with its mandate in technology and applied sciences. He embraced the idea of the establishment and subsequent inauguration of a WiSTEMGh branch in UEW and expressed the belief that the scientific race was not just for men but women as well. The Effutu MCE further opined that the Municipal Assembly would continue to avail itself to offer the support needed for the realization the vision of WiSTEMGH-UEW.
Hon. Zubairu Kassim announced a donation of GHc 10,000 from the Member of Parliament who doubles as the Deputy Majority leader of Ghana’s 8th Parliament to support the activities of the WiSTEMGH-UEW.
Story by: Charles Baah Aboagye – ISD
Last modified: March 17, 2023
