WITIA summit calls for investment in women to drive Africa’s innovation future
Governments, the private sector, universities and investors have been urged to increase investment in women and girls in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to unlock Africa’s economic and innovation potential.
The call was made during the Women in STEM Africa Summit 2026, organised by Women in Technology and Innovation Africa (WITIA) in partnership with UNESCO at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi.
The two-day summit, held on September 3 and 4 under the theme “Discovering Talent. Driving Innovation. Shaping Africa’s Future”, brought together policymakers, educators, technology leaders, entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, students and development partners. ([Women in STEM Africa Summit][1])
Oparanya calls for support for women innovators
Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development Wycliffe Oparanya said Africa must move beyond generating ideas and create opportunities for innovators to transform their ideas into sustainable businesses.
“Africa cannot build a competitive economy by producing ideas without creating pathways for those ideas to become enterprises,” Oparanya said.
He said women and young innovators need access to skills, financing, markets and networks to enable them to turn innovations into viable enterprises.
Oparanya further said the growth of Africa’s micro, small and medium enterprises must increasingly be linked to technology, innovation and digital transformation.
Ogamba: Girls must be nurtured in STEM
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba said education systems should identify and nurture STEM talent among girls from an early age.
“The Africa we want to build will require a generation that is confident in science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” Ogamba said.
He said girls should be given equal opportunities to learn, experiment, innovate and lead.
Ogamba added that education should not only prepare young people to seek employment but should also equip them to become creators of knowledge, technology and solutions.
Universities urged to turn research into solutions
Principal Secretary for Higher Education and Research Beatrice Muganda Inyangala called for stronger collaboration between universities, research institutions, industry and the wider innovation ecosystem.
“Our universities must become more than places where knowledge is transferred. They must become engines of research, innovation, entrepreneurship and problem-solving,” she said.
The PS said stronger pathways were needed to enable women researchers, scientists, engineers and innovators to move their ideas from laboratories and classrooms into the marketplace.
The summit also examined responsible artificial intelligence, data governance, digital transformation, technology policy and inclusion.
Startup wins KSh500,000 in pitch competition
The Investor Pitch Arena provided emerging entrepreneurs with an opportunity to present their innovations before investors, industry leaders and potential partners
WITIA awarded the winning startup KSh500,000 to support the growth and scaling of its innovation. The initiative sought to address the financing gap that continues to hinder innovators with promising ideas from commercialising their solutions.
WITIA founder and chair Eunice Pohlmann said the organisation’s ambition goes beyond increasing the number of women participating in STEM.
“We want an Africa where women are designing the technologies, leading companies, conducting the research, shaping policy and building the solutions that will define our future,” Pohlmann said.
The summit concluded with calls for increased investment in education, research, digital skills, mentorship, infrastructure, financing and inclusive innovation policies.
WITIA said its programmes, including technical training, mentorship, internships, scholarships and Smart Libraries, seek to bridge the gender and digital divide and expand opportunities for underserved communities.
The organisation said partnerships between governments, industry, universities, investors and development partners would be critical in ensuring women and girls have the skills, resources and networks needed to play a central role in Africa’s technological transformation.
