Women pursuing careers in science and technology need stronger support to turn their skills and ideas into businesses, research and leadership opportunities, stakeholders at a major summit in Nairobi have said.
The push came as the second Women in STEM Africa Summit opened at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on Thursday, September 3, 2026, bringing together policymakers, educators, researchers, investors, technology entrepreneurs and students.
The two-day meeting, organised by Women in Technology and Innovation Africa (WITIA) in partnership with UNESCO, is seeking to find and support talent while creating more opportunities for women to take part in technology and innovation.
Cooperatives and MSMEs Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, who served as the chief guest, said Africa must ensure that knowledge gained in schools and laboratories can lead to practical solutions and successful enterprises.
He said women need better access to skills, money, markets and professional connections to help them establish and expand their businesses.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said Africa’s future development would rely on young people who are able to understand and use STEM skills.
He said girls should be supported to learn, test new ideas, develop solutions and take up leadership positions in science and technology.
Other speakers said schools should prepare learners to become creators and problem-solvers rather than focusing only on preparing them for jobs.
They said learners should be equipped with the ability to develop knowledge, products and solutions that respond to challenges within their communities.
The government has committed to expanding STEM classrooms and laboratories, while encouraging universities to strengthen their links with industry so that students acquire skills that respond to the needs of the market.
Principal Secretary for Higher Education and Research Beatrice Muganda Inyangala called for closer working ties between universities, research bodies, industry and other players in the innovation sector.
She said universities should play a bigger role in research and solving problems while opening clearer opportunities for women scientists and engineers to take their work beyond laboratories and apply it in communities and businesses.
According to summit organisers, women represent about 31 per cent of researchers worldwide, with Africa still facing a gap in the number of women taking part in research and innovation.
They said efforts to increase women’s involvement in STEM should cover education, access to digital infrastructure, research and entrepreneurship.
The summit also gave entrepreneurs an opportunity to put their businesses before investors and industry players during a startup pitch session.
WITIA awarded the winning team Sh500,000 and facilitated introductions intended to help the business expand.
WITIA founder Eunice Pohlmann said women should have a greater role in creating technology systems, managing companies, heading research institutions and taking part in decisions that shape policy.
She said the focus should not only be on getting women into STEM but also ensuring they have opportunities to rise into positions where they can influence the sector.
Partnerships lead Gracie Wamwandu said an inclusive technology sector could only be built when institutions and other stakeholders worked together.
Participants also called on private-sector investors to take chances on African women innovators while their businesses are still at an early stage.
They said waiting until ventures are already established could deny many women the support they need to develop promising ideas into sustainable businesses.
The summit is expected to address areas including skills development, research, mentorship, infrastructure, funding and policies that can increase women’s participation in the digital economy.
WITIA said it will continue offering technical courses, internships, scholarships and Smart Libraries as part of efforts to widen access to technology and bridge gender and digital gaps.