By Ahmed ALHASSAN,
The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) has launched a mentorship programme for female students at the Federal College of Education, Technical (FCET), Gusau, Zamfara State.
This initiative draws inspiration from the principles highlighted at last year’s United Nations Women Convention on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York, United States. It is centred on innovation, technological change and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.
Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of ASR Africa, Dr Ubon Udoh, said: “Our commitment to education at ASR Africa goes beyond providing infrastructure and financial support, but also involves significant technical assistance. Our collaboration with the management and staff of FCET Gusau is one of such partnerships. I enjoin the young ladies of the college to fully embrace this opportunity and leverage it to become valuable contributors to their communities.
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“With the launch of this programme, ASR Africa is proud to stand at the forefront of advancing the UN Women’s mission by striving to bridge the digital divide for Nigerian women and girls,” he added.
Provost of FCET Gusau, Prof. Umar Bello, thanked ASR Africa’s Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu, for exceeding its initial request for infrastructural assistance to include technical assistance which has immense benefits for the school. He also acknowledged the partners who are collaborating with ASR Africa in this endeavour.
This ASR Africa mentorship programme seeks to address several hurdles that young women in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) encounter, such as the scarcity of female role models, limited opportunities for mentoring and sponsorship, and deep-rooted cultural and societal biases.
Therefore, the programme is expected to bolster the number of female students opting for careers in STEM fields, enhancing their academic performance and preparing them for future career prospects.
The launch attracted attention and participation from numerous women’s organisations from the UN and across Africa.