The US government has stated that it will assist the next generation of women leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, STEM, by connecting them with the professional networks and opportunities required to advance their careers and dreams in tech fields.
This was revealed at the recently concluded TechWomen Nigeria Mentorship Project for emerging female leaders in STEM fields, which was organized by the TechWomen Alumni Association of Nigeria in collaboration with the US Consulate and supported by Intel.
For six weeks, ten mentees between the ages of 18 and 30 were paired with ten female STEM leaders. Mentees shadowed mentors at leading technology and STEM-related companies in Lagos, such as Intel and Microsoft, and participated in capacity-building workshops with their peers.
The closing event celebrated the graduates, who shared their experiences and highlighted how participation in the program helped them to refine their skills and boost their confidence to advance in their various careers.
Speaking at the project’s closing ceremony in Lagos, US Consul-General Claire Pierangelo congratulated the young female STEM professionals on successfully completing the mentorship program.
Pierangelo emphasized the importance of expanding young women’s networks in STEM fields, encouraging them to pursue tech careers, and ensuring the mentor-mentee model’s sustainability in Nigeria.
“I am pleased to see that our TechWomen Nigeria alumni have taken steps to replicate their experience by providing mentoring opportunities for young women in STEM in their local communities,” said Pierangelo.
Mentoring can help young women in technology build confidence, improve skills, and set achievable career goals, according to Amuchienwa.
Rofiat Korodo, one of the mentees, explained that her participation in the mentorship program has helped her build capacity, expand her professional networks, and expose her to top female role models in her field.
“It’s been an incredible experience. My mentor guided me through specific professional situations, negotiation tactics, opportunities, and career path objectives. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to participate in this mentorship program” Korodo Stated.
TechWomen is a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State. It builds participants’ professional capacity, fosters mutual understanding among key professionals, and increases young women’s interest in STEM careers by exposing them to female role models.
Since the program’s inception in 2013, 45 Nigerian women in STEM have taken part in a one-of-a-kind five-week mentorship program to improve their specialized skills, connect with valuable mentors, and build a professional network of like-minded women.
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