For a group of female senior secondary school students gathered at the University of Lagos on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, the classroom looked a little different. Instead of listening to lectures, the students were introduced to renewable energy, artificial intelligence, sustainability, and innovation. They were also encouraged to imagine themselves as the women who could one day develop solutions to some of society’s most pressing challenges.
This was the idea behind ECO-STEM Trailblazers 3.0 Summer Camp, a two-day programme organized by the University of Lagos (UNILAG) AFRETEC Network. With the theme “ From Green Ideas to AI-Powered Solutions ,” the programme is designed to equip female students with knowledge, practical skills, and the confidence to explore Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and apply what they learn to real-world problems.
Creating Space for Girls in STEM
Opening the programme, the Director, Academic Planning Unit, Professor Olufunlayo Bammeke, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade T. Ogunsola, OON, FAS, emphasized the importance of creating more opportunities for girls to participate meaningfully in STEM education. Professor Bammeke noted that technological innovation is rapidly reshaping societies and creating opportunities across sectors. It is therefore important, she said, to ensure that girls are not left behind.
She observed that perceptions around girls’ participation in STEM are changing, driven by greater policy attention to girls’ education and the global commitment to inclusive and equitable quality education.
Referencing Sustainable Development Goal 4, which promotes inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all, she urged the participants to see the changing landscape as an opportunity to explore their abilities and develop their talents.
Professor Bammeke also commended the AFRETEC team for initiating the programme and encouraged the students to make the most of the learning opportunities.
From Users to Creators
For AFRETEC Network, UNILAG, the camp represents more than an introduction to technology. It became part of a broader effort to equip young people with skills that will remain relevant in a rapidly changing world.
AFRETEC Adviser and Board Member, Professor Ismail Adegboyega Ibraheem, who represented the AFRETEC UNILAG Coordinator, Professor Mohammed Olawale Hakeem Amuda, welcomed the students. He explained that the programme falls under the Network’s Teaching and Learning Pillar and reflects AFRETEC’s commitment to strengthening education and preparing young people for a technology-driven future.
He encouraged the girls to remain curious, ask questions, and take full advantage of the opportunities provided by the programme.
Professor Ibraheem was accompanied by the Director, Office of Global Engagement and Strategic Partnerships (OGESP), Professor Abimbola Sowemimo, and the Dean, Faculty of Education, Professor Joseph Awoyinfa.
Guest speaker Mrs. Serah Peter-Adeoye, a graduate of Surveying and Geo-Informatics, further reinforced the message. Drawing from her professional experience, she challenged the students to see themselves not merely as consumers of technology, but as creators and problem-solvers. She urged them to build their confidence, embrace innovation, and recognize the role they can play in shaping the future of AI and sustainability.
Learning Sustainability Through Practice
The camp quickly moved from conversation to practical learning. In a session titled “ Innovating a Sustainable Future Through Renewable Energy ,” Professor Fakorede introduced students to the relationship between renewable energy, innovation, and sustainable development.
The students explored solar, wind, hydropower, biomass, and geothermal energy, and considered their potential as cleaner alternatives to fossil fuels.
Professor Fakorede explained that technological innovation is key to making renewable energy more efficient, affordable, accessible, and reliable.The session also exposed students to improved solar panels, energy-storage systems, smart grids, electric vehicles, and energy-efficient equipment. This demonstrated how innovation can reduce dependence on fossil fuels while meeting growing energy demands.
Thereafter, the students participated in hands-on activities, giving them an opportunity to engage directly with the concepts introduced.
Thinking Green
The Convener and member of the AFRETEC Teaching and Learning Pillar, Professor Owoyemi, further encouraged an environmentally conscious mindset in a session on “ Thinking Green .”
She challenged the students to see sustainability not just as an environmental issue, but as an area where creative thinking and innovation can make a practical difference.
Taking Green Ideas into the World of AI
The next stage took the students into the world of artificial intelligence. At the NITDA Hub, the Director of the Hub and Head of the AFRETEC Teaching and Learning Pillar, Professor Victor Odumuyiwa, led sessions on using Artificial Intelligence to develop sustainable solutions to local environmental challenges.
The visit showed students how digital technologies can move ideas from the classroom into practical applications. It also brought the camp’s theme, “ From Green Ideas to AI-Powered Solutions ,” into clearer focus, demonstrating how technology can be applied to problems in their own communities.
The students also visited UNILAG UNIPOD, where they were introduced to further opportunities in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
For many participants, the experience offered a new perspective on STEM. Rather than seeing science and technology as distant or abstract, the camp presented them as tools to create, experiment, solve problems, and contribute to society.
ECO-STEM Trailblazers 3.0 Summer Camp
The ECO-STEM Trailblazers 3.0 Summer Camp continued on Wednesday, Septeber 9, 2026 with more activities designed to deepen the students’ understanding of STEM, Artificial Intelligence, sustainability, and innovation. The programme concluded with a closing ceremony where participants received certificates of participation.
Report: Bayo Salau
Photographs: Lawrence Opeyemi Oyebanji / Michael Ike-Ossai (Student Interns)
