The 5th International Day for Women and Girls in Science which is  an annual occasion marked every 11th of February will not be  forgotten in a hurry as the African Union Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology, Her Excellency, Prof Sarah Ayang  Agbor  led women scientists and girls  from across Africa to attend the  year 2020  summit at the UN Headquarters in New York , United States of America from 11-12th February 2020. The conference was borne out of the vision of Her Royal Highness Princess Dr Nisreen El-Hashemite, Executive Director, Royal Academy of Science International Trust (RASIT) and Founder, Women in Science International League.

Speaking at the conference, the African Youth empowerment crusader, Prof Agbor called on women and girls from all over the world to engage more in Science related fields as a way of making Africa and the rest of the world a better place for all.

Her Excellency, Prof Sarah Ayang  Agbor delivering her keynote address

Prof Agbor said the Long-lasting biases and gender stereotypes that are steering girls and women away from science related fields must be overcome.

One of the African delegates from Nigeria Prof Aina Adeogun, a Professor of Aquatic Toxicology from the Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria  spoke with CEOAFRICA, describing the summit as a great  conference that showcased the amazing contributions of women and girls to global scientific advancement as women and girls showed that they were pushing the boundaries in science and innovation and the future looks very promising for achieving the objectives and aspirations of STEM.’

Prof Aina Adeogun, a Professor of Aquatic Toxicology from the Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria at the conference

 One of the major highlights and mind-blowing experience that delegates were in awe of was the that Miss America 2020 is a biochemist and a doctoral candidate. She changed the narrative of Miss America by proving to the world that you can be a beauty queen and a very smart scientist. The global community of female scientists is growing slowly but steadily and discussants all agreed that we must make science appealing to the women of the world because when a woman is trained in the science, she not only contributes immensely to global development but has an intuitive edge to solving societal problems.

The crucial role of women and girls in driving the NEXTGEN scientific phenomenon was pivot to the resolution by the United Nations that led to the declaration of 11 February as the International Day or Women and Girls in Science.

According to the UN Scientific Education and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), less than 30% of researchers worldwide are women and approximately 14% of all female students select STEM-related fields in higher education.

Globally, female students’ enrolment is particularly low in ICT, Natural Science, Mathematics and statistics, and engineering, manufacturing and construction.

In order to achieve full and equal access to women participation in  science for women and girls, and further achieve gender equality and empowerment of women and girls, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/70/212 declaring 11 February as the International Day of Women and Girls in science.

See pictures below:

Her Excellency, Prof Sarah Ayang  Agbor at the conference

 Miss America 2020 is a biochemist and a doctoral candidate, Camille Schrier delivering her speech at conference

Miss America 2020 is a biochemist and a doctoral candidate, Camille Schrier