Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Women in STEM Initiative, Caroline Nyaga, has called for greater investment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education for girls across Africa, stressing that mentorship and practical skills development are essential to preparing young people for the future workforce.
Nyaga made the call during an interactive discussion moderated by entrepreneur Mikhail Baluchi at the ongoing Year of Return Africa (YORA) Summit & Expo 2026 at Broadwalk Mall, Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya.
Drawing from her 12 years of teaching experience, Nyaga explained that her organisation was established after she observed significant differences in science performance between boys and girls at a school in Murang’a County, Kenya.
According to her, the situation inspired her to establish a mentorship club where female students received encouragement and guidance to develop confidence in science-related subjects.
“If I made it in the science subjects, you can also make it,” Nyaga recalled telling the girls.
She explained that the mentorship programme produced encouraging results, with the girls eventually improving their academic performance and competing favourably with their male counterparts.
Nyaga said the experience convinced her that similar challenges existed in other schools, leading to the establishment of Women in STEM Initiative, which now promotes robotics, coding, mentorship and practical skills development among girls and young women.
She identified cultural stereotypes, limited encouragement and negative perceptions about girls’ abilities in science as some of the barriers preventing female students from pursuing careers in technology and engineering.
“It’s possible to pursue a career in engineering. It’s possible to pursue computer science,” she declared, emphasising the importance of creating opportunities for girls to explore traditionally male-dominated fields.
Responding to questions about youth employment, Nyaga highlighted Kenya’s Competency-Based Education system, which places greater emphasis on practical skills, individual strengths and career pathways.
She argued that preparing students for the modern workplace requires more than excellent examination results, noting that collaboration, communication, creativity and problem-solving are increasingly important.
“We are now focusing on the strengths of a child, not necessarily the grades,” she explained.
Nyaga also highlighted the organisation’s “STEM for the Teen” competition, which encourages students to identify challenges within their communities, develop prototype solutions and present their ideas confidently.
She said the initiative was designed to help young people become innovators and problem-solvers rather than depend entirely on academic qualifications for employment.
The discussion formed part of YORA Summit 2026’s wider focus on technology, innovation, entrepreneurship and Africa’s next generation of economic leaders.
Nyaga’s message reinforced the need for African countries to invest in inclusive education systems that equip girls and young women with the skills required to participate fully in the continent’s technological transformation.
