The Federal Government has restated its resolve to promote gender equality through empowerment of young women with knowledge of Science, Technology and Innovation.

Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, who made this known in Abuja said gender equality and empowerment of women are critical to the socio-economic development of the nation.

Chief Nnaji who was represented by the Director Science, Technology and Promotion, (STP) Mr. Ronald Ukpong, said this at a one-day sensitization programme on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) with the theme: “Unleashing Potentials: Empowering the Girl Child for a secured Future” held by the Ministry in Abuja.

The Minister said that the goal of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Administration is to build a strong, resilient and committed women leaders in the Innovation, Science and Technology sector that will drive the nation economy from consumption to production with special focus on girl child education.

According to the Minister, “Science,Technology, Engineering and Mathematics(STEM), is a new method of learning for easy understanding by the students  adding that the participation of girls and women in the field of STEM remains significantly lower than that of men even in some of the world’s technologically advanced nations”.

Nnaji lamented that women especially in Africa were not recognized in the development of the society which resulted in stereotyping them as well as not utilizing their potentials in proffering solutions to societal challenges.

To this end, the Minister said the Ministry in recognition of the role played by women in development of Innovation, Science and Technology sector, seeks to develop the capacity of women especially through mainstreaming them into human capital development, agriculture, industrial growth and banking and finance amongst others.

The Minister commended the teachers for their resilience, dedication and diligence in their daily sacrifices to ensure that the children achieve their ambitions and dreams of greater self-reliance.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Mr. James Sule, who was represented by  his Special Assistant Mrs. Aisha Mohammed Bello, said that the Federal Government in its quest to develop the country Technologically has established many Federal Universities of  Science and Technology with the aim of improving the teaching in career areas of STEM education.

He furthermore said that as part of the Ministry’s efforts to popularize science education in the Country, the Ministry is desirous to making equity, deserving groups more visible in order to promote careers in  STEM.

Speaking, the Director FCT Department of Innovation Science and Technology Mr. Olobashola  Kolawole who was represented by Mrs. Nkechi  Nwachukwu ,Director  Technology, Acquisition and Promotion said that one of the greatest  tragedies in life is to watch potentials die untapped, adding that everyone is equipped with abilities, talents and gifts.

She further encouraged the students to work hard, not to settle for less, to achieve this, they must learn how to set goals, understand their strength and what they have passion for, take risk and surround themselves with those that will inspire and encourage them