The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) Ghana, has inspired young girls in the Adentan Municipality of the Greater Accra Region to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
During this year’s celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (IDWGS) in Accra, women in STEM from AIMS Ghana including alumni and Regular Masters’ students shared experiences on their STEM journey and inspired the girls to pursue courses and careers in STEM, so they could be agents of change in their communities and in Africa.
The AIMS team in their presentations highlighted the Girls in Mathematical Sciences Program being run at AIMS Ghana and how the participating girls could enroll in the programme.
The 100 participating girls were drawn from Sowa Din Memorial 1 Junior High School, Sowa Din Memorial 2 Junior High School, and the St. Francis Catholic Basic School in the Adentan Municipality of the Greater Accra Region.
The celebration on the theme: ‘Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Water Unites Us,’ with a focus on sanitation and the environment, was organized by AIMS Ghana with the objective of recognizing the critical role women and girls play in ensuring a safe environment as well as developing a special class of girls who will lead cutting-edge research and innovation to transform their respective communities and society as a whole.
Ms. Adelaide Asante, Chief Operating Officer, AIMS Ghana, encouraged the girls to develop analytical thinking with a passion to pursue careers in STEM in the future.
She noted that individuals who had passion in their chosen careers achieved great laurels because of the “passion to succeed and impact lives”.
Some girls expressed satisfaction with the words of encouragement from the women in STEM and resource persons.
They pledged to work hard academically in order to succeed in pursuing studies and careers in STEM. Meanwhile, Ms. Chineyenwa Okoro-Onu, Founder and Managing Director of Waste or Create Hub, inspired the students to set up recycling systems at both school and home.
The girls received practical training on how to recycle disposable household materials into useful objects in the quest to enhance environmental cleanliness and reduce greenhouse emissions.
Ms. Okoro-Onu urged the students to be innovative and agents of change in society by converting disposable plastic bottles, broken bottles, car tyres, canned tins, and other waste materials into reusable objects.
“You should be part of the solution to protect the environment and be eco champions at both home and school by recycling disposable materials and making them useful again,” she said.
She also urged them to use electricity and water resources usefully by putting off the tap after use and switching off the light when not in use, in order to conserve energy and save their parents and guardians money.
Mr. Perry Ofori, Deputy Director in charge of Monitoring and Supervision, Adentan Education Directorate, in a brief remark, encouraged the students, especially girl-child to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) with all seriousness and determination in order to transform the society.
He was of the belief that educating the girl-child would impact society positively in engendering transformation.
