Experts have stressed that leadership mentorship, gender-inclusive STEM education, and sustained advocacy are critical to Africa’s development as rapid technological innovation increasingly drives economic growth, job creation, and good governance.

Concerns arise from widening skills gaps, persistent gender exclusion, and the need to prepare young Africans to drive science, technology, and innovation in ways tailored to local realities rather than imported models. STEM—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics—remains central to fostering innovation, critical thinking, problem-solving, and hands-on application across the continent.

This emerged during a leadership dialogue, The Future of STEM in Africa, jointly organized by the U.S. Mission and the Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Association, in collaboration with the Working to Advance Science and Technology Education for African Women (WAAW) Foundation. Twenty-six fellows, including 10 Mandela Washington Fellows and 16 WAAW Fellows from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Federal University of Technology Minna, Federal University of Technology Owerri, and University of Ibadan, participated.

Diran Adegoke, representing the U.S. Mission Nigeria, emphasized that collaboration among young leaders is essential for sustainable impact, calling for partnerships beyond institutional boundaries. Oluwatimilehin Onafeso, Executive Director of WAAW Foundation, highlighted that women’s participation in STEM is no longer optional, noting that exclusion continues to limit innovation and economic competitiveness.

The dialogue included open sessions where fellows shared experiences navigating leadership, gender barriers, and social expectations in STEM spaces. They concluded that inclusive leadership and culturally relevant solutions are essential to building resilient institutions, particularly in communities facing poverty and cultural resistance.

Practical sessions explored emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, with hands-on demonstrations to reinforce technical understanding. Organizers said the dialogue would continue through mentorship networks, advocacy initiatives, and programs designed to expand opportunities for young Africans, especially women, to influence STEM policy, innovation, and leadership across the continent.