As part of contribution to celebrating the international day of women and girls in science related subjects, the Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) Lagos chapter held a press briefing ahead of its plan to organise a competition for all female students in both private and public Secondary schools across the state.
Whilst addressing the press, the President Prof. Joy Okpuzo remarked on how important Science and Gender equality cannot be overlooked as they form the two most important factors necessary for the attainment of the international agreed development goal, a sub-set of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable Development. She stressed on the need for firm policy to be established which could drive national development devoid of gender bias that has kept the nation swinging up and down.
Also at the event was Professor Nkiruka Udeani who opined thatthe issue is so complex and cannot be traced to a single underlying reason but, rather, barriers likened to an invisible web with intertwined strands representing cultural, societal, personal, institutional, political and economic obstacles. She however explained the need to know that societies have long imposed unhelpful gender stereotypes differentiating between what is expected of boys and girls.
Other speakers at the event includes Prof, Olubunmi Otubanjo; Vice President of the organisation, Dr. Elizabeth Ade-Ademilua; representative of the Ministry of Education, Mr. Solanke amongst others enjoined all to be committed to developing strategies for the participation and leadership of women in national and international science and innovation systems; which can only be encouraged from the secondary level of their education.
The event is said to engage about three thousand (3000) girls from about 100 schools in Lagos State and will be done in phases with different presentations from participating schools. Thereafter, a total of thirty (30) presentations will then be selected where the semi-finals will emerged before the final scheduled for March 30th 2020 at the J. F Ade-Ajayi Auditorium of the University of Lagos.
The event which is in collaboration with the Lagos State Government Ministry of Education is set to provide an opportunity for young girls and change makers to share their vision as to how they can best utilise science to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
