Foundation awards scholarship to 5 Nigerian girls, others

Fri, May 29, 2020
By publisher
3 MIN READ

Education

WORKING to Advance Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Education for African Women (STEM-WAAW) Foundation has awarded scholarship to ten college girls in Africa for their studies.

The Chief Operating Officer of the foundation, Mrs Loveth Imo, disclosed this on Friday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Imo said that the scholarship was awarded to the girls because they were under-privileged, from poor socio-economic backgrounds in public schools.

“The WAAW foundation need-based scholarship is awarded to African female undergraduate college students studying Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines in colleges in Africa from age 18-32 years.

“We provide 500 dollars to support underprivileged girls such as orphans, girls impacted by HIV or girls from low-income families who demonstrate proven financial need while studying a STEM-related degree course.

“Scholars are mentored to become college-to-secondary STEM advocates, leaders, and change agents, who give back to their communities and promote technology innovation for problem-solving.

“In the past years, WAAW foundation’s awards up to five girls and from 2007 to date, WAAW foundation has awarded a total of 74 girls from over 20 African countries.

“In 2020, WAAW foundation increased its impact and has awarded ten girls from nine universities and six African countries,” she said.

According to her, girls who go to school and stay in school are able to find jobs, and they spend most of their incomes on their families.

She further said that the young women impact their families, communities and country at large.

Imo said the students were accessed through virtual interviews after a written application.

The official added that the foundation had alumni community, where they constantly mentor the girls, connect them to jobs or internship programmes upon graduation and also employ some.

“We have employed over 10 fellows in the last five years either through internship and our goal is that they graduate with a degree and be relevant in their community, especially to the younger girls,” Imo said.

The girls are five Nigerians, which included Miracle Ufodiama, studying Computer Science in University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Ajakaiye Rita, studying Physics Electronics in Federal University of Technology, Akure.

Other Nigerian students are Nweze Perpetua, Agricultural Extension, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Naomi Oborewori, Mechanical Engineering from Delta State University and Goodness Esene studying Petroleum Engineering in University of Benin.

The other girls are Delelegne Yenework studying Software Engineering in Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, Paskalina Amos, Computer Engineering in University of Dodoma,Tanzania, Orera Anita, Geomatic Engineering and Geospatial Information Systems in Jomo Kenyatta University, Kenya.

Others are Tawiah Macbeth, studying Oil and Gas Engineering in All Nations University College, Ghana and Marcella Ishimwe, studying Architecture in University of Rwanda.

WAAW foundation is a non-profit making organisation with the mandate to empower girls in Africa by increasing the number of girls educated in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields.

The foundation also encourages the girls’ engagement in technology, entrepreneurship and innovation to benefit Africa. (NAN)

– May 29, 2020 @ 14:15 GMT |

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